The present study is designed to evaluate the holistic potential of an ethanolic leaf extract of Medicago sativa in combating diabetic hyperglycaemia as well as associated manifestations. Adult albino rats were made diabetic by using alloxan (120 mg / kg body weight). Both diabetic (D) and non diabetic (C) animals were treated with Medicago sativa (MSE) extract and metformin as a reference drug, for a period of 30 days. At the end of the treatment period, animals were sacrificed and various parameters of glycaemic status (Glucose, Insulin, GTT, IRT), serum lipids (CHO, TG, LDL, HDL, VLDL), oxidative stress (LPO, GPx, GSH, SOD and CAT), markers of renal and hepatic dysfunction (ALP, ACP, SGOT, SGPT, Urea, Creatinine), serum ionic levels and renal Na+ - K+ ATPase activity were evaluated. Results obtained indicate an effective glycaemic control in MSE treated D animals alongwith a bettered serum lipid profile. Diabetes induced increase in lipid peroxidation and renal and hepatic markers of dysfunction were normalized by MSE treatment and the effects were comparable to those seen with metformin treatment. Further, compromised levels of antioxidant enzymes and Na+ - K+ ATPase in diabetic animals, was also brought to C levels by MSE extract treatment. Both MSE and metformin treatment reversed the changes in the levels of serum electrolytes in D animals. Overall, this study provides evidence for further analysis of this plant in the development of a versatile multitargetted drug as a treatment for diabetes, with the results
