Influence of combination of crude extract of aegle marmelos leaves and tamarindus indica seeds on sugar and lipid level in normal and streptozocin induced diabetic rats

To evaluate the effects of the combination of crude extract from the leaves of Aegle marmelos and seeds of Tamarindus indica on blood glucose and serum lipid level in normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of Streptozocin dissolved in 0.1 M cold sodium citrate buffer, pH 4.5, at a dose of 35 mg/kg and maintained on ice prior to use. A mixture of crude extract by oral gavage at the dose of 350mg/kg, 700mg/kg and 1400mg/kg per day for 45 days. A significant diminution of fasting blood sugar level from 7 days onwards as compared to diabetic control and glibenclamide treated rats but there was no significant difference among normal rats. Continuous supplementation of this extract for 45 days resulted significant decrease of serum triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and elevation of HDL cholesterol level in treatment group with respect to control group. Results clearly suggest that, this crude test drug combination has enormous antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic value. Moreover, it is very important to elucidate the phytochemical compounds responsible for these activities and the specific mechanism for its antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect.