Antihyperglycemic and antioxidative potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Butea monosperma Lam flowers in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

Daily treatment of alloxan-induced diabetic animals with 50% ethanolic extract of B. monosperma flowers (BMEE) for 45 days significantly lowered blood glucose level thereby preventing steep onset of hyperglycemia which was observed after alloxan administration and maintained body weight and blood glucose level close to the values observed in normal control and glibenclamide-treated diabetic mice. Moreover, the level of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also lowered, whereas the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which was reduced in untreated diabetic animals, was significantly elevated. Oxidative damage in the liver, pancreas and kidneys of diabetic mice as evidenced by a marked increment in the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and also a distinct diminution in glutathione content was nullified by BMEE. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were also assessed in all the experimental groups. These enzymes registered a decline in their activity in diabetic animals thus revealing the damaging effects of free radicals generated due to alloxan exposure but their activities were reverted towards near normal range in BMEE-administered mice thus indicating the antioxidant efficacy of the drug in resisting oxidative damage.