To evaluate ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Bauhinia variegata L Caesalpiniodeae (caesalpiniaceae) in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneally (i.p) streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) in adult male albino Wistar rats. Blood glucose levels were determined after oral administration of B. variegata L (200 mg/kg b. wt) in diabetic groups. Blood glucose levels were determined on 7th, 14th and 21st day after oral administration of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Bauhinia variegata L (200 mg/kg) and standard drug exhibited (500 μg/kg) in diabetic rats. The effect of extracts of B. variegata L on blood glucose levels and serum lipid profile like Total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, low density, very low density and high density lipoprotein were measured in the diabetic and non diabetic rats. There was significant reduction in Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and improvement in HDL cholesterol in diabetic rats. These results indicate that B. variegata possesses a hypoglycemic effect.
