Effect of Dolichos biflorus on blood sugar and lipids in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, which leads to severe morbid complications. In view of the effectiveness of conventional herbal adjutants the present study was taken to assess the anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic effect of Dolichos biflorus. 32 healthy albino rats of either sex were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (I-IV) each having 8 rats. Group I, control rats received only vehicular fluid while Group II received only Dolichos biflorus for the experimental period of 30 days. Diabetes was induced in Group II and Group IV rats by single intravenous dose of STZ and confirmed on 3rd day with fasting blood sugar (FBS) more than 250 mg/dl. Group III diabetic rats, received vehicular fluid while Group IV diabetic rats received Dolichos biflorus in single dose of 300 mg/kg body weight/day intra-gastrically up to the experimental period of 30 days. FBS levels were assessed on 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 30th day. On last day overnight fasted rats were sacrificed for drawing the sample for lipid profile from beating heart and harvested for pancreatic tissue histology. Data obtained showed that FBS levels were decreased significantly when Dolichos biflorus was given to diabetic rats from mean +/- SD values 362 +/- 63.36 to 118 +/- 38.55 with p value < 001. S cholesterol and S. triglyceride levels were also decreased significantly with P value < 001. It was concluded that Dolichos biflorus has anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic effect at daily oral dose and can be used as an adjuvant for management of diabetes mellitus and its associated complications.