International Journal of Pharmacology1811-77751812-5700Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijp.2009.323.326Rauwolfia serpentina in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats]]>QureshiS.A. NawazA. UdaniS.K. AzmiB. 5200955 The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide. Changes in lipid metabolism are secondary to diabetes, which may become the cause of hypertension, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of methanolic root extract of Rauwolfia serpentina (a known antihypertensive herb) on glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were divided in to 3 groups viz., group I: diabetic control treated with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in distilled water (1 mL kg-1), group II (positive control): diabetic rats treated with known anti-diabetic drug chlorpropamide (20 mg kg-1) and group III (diabetic test): treated with methanolic root extract (30 mg kg-1). Glucose was estimated from each group at 0, 1, 2 and 4 h after intra-peritoneal injection of each treatment by using glucometer. Rats were decapitated at 4 h, blood was collected to separate the serum that used to analyze TC, TG and ALT. There was a significant decrease (p<0.0001) found in glucose level from 0 to 4 h (94-106 mg dL-1) in test rats as compared to diabetic control. Similarly, TG (p<0.01), TC and ALT (p<0.05) were also significantly decrease in test group. The methanolic root extract of R. serpentina was found hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and hepato-protective in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.]]>Bishop, M.L., P.E. Fody and L. Schoeff,20055th Edn.,Chatterjee, M.L., M.S. De and D. Setb,1960Rauwolfia serpentine alkaloids on blood sugar levels in anaesthetized cats.]]>8152153Cunha, W.R., G.M. Arantes, D.S. Ferreira, R. Lucarini and M.L.A. Silva et al.,2008Leandra lacunose in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.]]>79356360Daisy, P., H.I. Averal and R.D. Modilal,2004Phyllanthus extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.]]>52127Epstein, M. and J.R. Sowers,199219403418Ghani, A.,19982nd Edn.,pp: 276pp: 276Harris, E.H.,200523115119Itoh, A., T. Kumashiro, M. Yamaguchi, N. Nagakura, Y. Mizushina, T. Nishi and T. Tanahashi,2005Rauwolfia serpentina.]]>68848852Ju, J.B., J.S. Kim, C.W. Choi, H.K. Lee, T.K. Oh and S.C. Kim,2008115110115Kamanyi, A., D. Njamen and B. Nikeh,1994Morinda lucida (Benth) (Rubiaceae) studies in mouse.]]>8369371Kim, J.S., B.B. Ju, C.W. Choi and S.C. Kim,20062154160Konzem, S.L., V.S. Devore and D.W. Bauer,20026612091214Lu, H., J. Chen, W.L. Li, B.R. Ren and J.L. Wu et al.,2009122486491Mashour, N.H., G.I. Lin and W.H. Frisherman,199815822252234Pari, L. and J.U. Maheswari,1999Musa sapientum L. in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.]]>68321325Qureshi, S.A., W. Asad and V. Sultana,2009Phyllanthus emblica Linn on type-II diabetes, triglycerides and liver-specific enzyme.]]>8125128Rao, B.K., M.M. Kesavulu, R. Giri and C.A. Rao,1999Momordica cymbalaria Hook. fruit powder in alloxan-diabetic rats.]]>67103109Rang, H.P., M.M. Dale, J.M. Ritter and P.K. Moore,20032003pp: 385-393pp: 385-393Saleem, R., M. Ahmed, S.A Hussain, A.M. Qazi and S.I. Ahmad et al.,1999Bombax ceiba.]]>65331334Salma, U., M.S.M. Rahman, S. Islam, N. Haque, M. Khatun, T.A. Jubair and B.C. Paul,2008Rauwolfia serpentina L. Benth.]]>1112731277Sharma, S.B., A. Nasir, K.M. Prabhu, P.S. Murthy and G. Dev,2003Eugenia jambolana in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits.]]>85201206Srivastava, A., A.K. Tripathi, R. Pandey, R.K. Verma and M.M. Gupta,200644557560Tona, L., K. Kambu, K. Mesia, K. Cimanga and S. Apers et al.,199965966Von Poser, G., H.H. Andrade, K.V. Da Silva and J.A. Henriques,1990Rauwolfia alkaloids.]]>2323743WHO Expert Committee on Diabetes Mellitus,1980646180Craig, W.J.,199970491S499S