Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Properties of Vitex nigundo L. Leaves

Vitex Nigundo Linn. is credited with important medicinal activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticonvulsant etc. The purpose of the presents study was to assess the therapy effect of V. Nigundo leaves extract on glucose level, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, SGPT and SGOT in blood serum of diabetic animals. Ethyl alcohol extract of V. Nigundo leaves in doses of 200 and 300 mgkg -1 body weights was daily administered orally by gavages to mice for 21 days to evaluate their antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects on normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Ethyl alcohol extract of V. Nigundo leaves in doses of 300 mgkg -1 body weights showed (P<0.01) more significant activity than the ethyl alcohol extract of V. Nigundo leaves in doses of 200 mgkg-1 body weights. The study validates scientifically the widely claimed use of V. Nigundo leaves as an ethnomedicine to treat diabetes mellitus.