ABSTRACT:
‘Caper plant’ (family, Capparidaceae) is a small tree or a bushy shrub that grows wild in India and other arid locations across the world. The species widely growing in Gujarat is Capparis decidua Edgew. which is a highly valued Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Traditional literature states that the plant species is used to treat number of illnesses, especially hyperglycemia. The current investigation was conducted to assess the potential antidiabetic effects of the stems of this common Caper plant species. Three different extracts of C. decidua stem were prepared for the pharmacological study: Extract-A (aqueous extract), Extract-B (ethanolic extract) and Extract-C (hydroalcoholic extract). The antidiabetic activity of the stem extracts was assessed using streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model in rats. Intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) to rats resulted in diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycemia. The effects of all the extracts (300 mg/kg) were evaluated by measuring different parameters like body weight, food and water intake, serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipids and liver function tests. Glibenclamide at a dose of 10 mg/kg was taken as reference antidiabetic drug. The results suggested that all the three extracts have anti-diabetic activity. However, Extract-A exerted most significant outcome on glucose and insulin levels and subsequent effects were similar to the standard drug. Therefore, our study supports the traditional use of C. decidua for hyperglycemia.