Antioxidant and Antihyperglycemic Potential of Luffa acutangula Fruit Extract in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Our earlier study demonstrates that the treatment of acrude extract of Luffaacutangula (L.) Roxb. (Family: Cucurbitaceae), a folkloric hypoglycaemic plant widely used in the southern part of India which reduces glucose level in blood under high glucose load, and in STZ-provoked diabetes in rats. This study was carried out to establish the antioxidant effects of crude extracts of L. acutangula (50 and 100 mg/kg) in STZ provoked diabetic animals. Regular treatment of the fruit extracts of L. acutangula (50 and 100 mg/kg) for 28 days ensued noteworthy decrease in the levels of plasma TBARS, hydroperoxide, and ceruloplasmin and a substantial increase in plasma GSH, vitamins C and α-tocopherol.Based on the findings, L. acutangulais potential antihyperglycemic agents and restored all the antioxidant factors close to normal range. Thus, our outcomes open new prospects for advanced studies, including, a clinically based study to appraise the antidiabetic potential of the herbs.