Abstract:
The present study was carried-out to investigate the insulin sensitizing activity of purified methanolic extract of salacia reticulata roots in fructose-fed rats, a well-known model of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Feeding fructose enriched diet caused a hyperinsulinemic state and increased insulin resistance index with statistically significant increase in fasting triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Fructose fed rats also exhibited glucose intolerance when tested by oral glucose tolerance test as indicated by increase in total area under curve of blood glucose. Dietary supplementation of purified methanolic extract of Salacia reticulata (0.4 g/100 g of feed) significantly reversed the fructose diet-induced metabolic alterations in rats and also improved glucose intolerance. The effect of purified methanolic extract of Salacia reticulata was comparable to that of rosiglitazone, a known insulin sensitizer. Acarbose, a marketed α-glucosidase inhibitor failed to reverse the metabolic alterations caused by fructose enriched diet in rats. The finding proves probable mechanism of action of Salacia reticulata and further validates scientific basis of its usage in the management of various metabolic disorders including diabetes.
Mohamed Rafiq and S.K. Mitra, 2010. Purified Methanolic Extract of Salacia reticulata Wight. Ameliorates Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Alterations in Rats Fed High Fructose Diet. International Journal of Pharmacology, 6: 386-392.
Subscribe Today 
