Diospyros cordifolia Roxb. (Ebenaceae), commonly known as Indian ebony is used traditionally for several medicinal purposes. In the present study, the methanol extract of D. cordifolia bark (MEDC) was evaluated for antidiabetic activity in Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitonial injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg body weight). Three days after STZ induction, the hyperglycemic rats were treated with MEDC intraperitoneally at the dose of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight daily for 15 days. The fasting blood glucose levels were measured on every 5th day during the 15 days treatment. Serum biochemical parameters such as SGPT, SGOT, SALP, cholesterol and total protein were estimated. Antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating hepatic lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). MEDC at the both doses significantly (p < 0.001) and dose dependently reduced and normalized blood glucose levels as compared to that of STZ control group. Serum biochemical parameters were significantly (p < 0.001) restored towards normal levels in MEDC treated rats as compared to STZ control. MEDC treatment also significantly (p < 0.001) decreased lipid peroxidation and recovered GSH level and CAT activity towards normal as compared to STZ control. The present study infers that D. cordifolia bark demonstrated remarkable antidiabetic activity in STZinduced diabetic rats.
