Evaluation of the Antidiabetic, Islet Protective and Beta-Cell Regenerative Effects of Tinospora crispa (L.)

Tinospora crispa (L.) is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various ailments including diabetes. The stem has been widely studied for its antidiabetic properties, however the antidiabetic potential of its leaves has not been explored. This study investigates the antidiabetic properties of methanolic T. crispa stem and leaves extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The stems and leaves were extracted using Soxhlet extraction with methanol as solvent. Crude extracts were administered at 500 mg/kg body weight (BW) (high dose) and 250 mg/kg BW (low dose) via oral route to alloxan induced diabetic rats. T. crispa stem and leaves extracts was found to significantly reduce blood glucose following a twelve-week treatment period. The highest mean difference in blood glucose level was exhibited by animals in the high dose treated stem and low dose leaf extracts. Both extracts showed approximately 75% percentage recovery from hyperglycaemia. The highest regenerative capacity was observed in animals treated with the low dose leaf extract.