SHILAJIT-INDUCED POTENTIATION OF THE HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTION OF INSULIN AND INHIBITION OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES IN RAT

The effects of subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of processed shilaji t (PS) alone and in combination with insulin (s.c.) on plasma glucose levels (PGL) were determined in either sex of streptozotocin-induced d iabetic (SID) rats. PS (50 mu g/kg; s.c.) did not alter plasma glucose levels in SID rats. Insulin (0.25-1.0 U/kg; s.c.), dose-dependently p roduced hypoglycaemia in SID rats. PS (50 mu g/kg; s.c.) potentiated a nd prolonged the hypoglycaemic action of insulin when administered con currently. Chronic administration of PS (0.1-10 mg/kg; b.i.d. for 10 d ays; i.p.) had no influence per se on plasma glucose levels. Chronic a dministration of PS (1.0 mg/kg; b.i.d. for 10 days; i.p.) prevented th e streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats, whereas a relatively lower (0.1 mg/kg; b.i.d. for 10 days; i.p.) and significantly higher d ose (10 mg/kg; b.i.d. for 10 days; i.p.) of PS had no influence on the STZ-induced diabetes. The results suggest that administration of PS a long with insulin would potentiate the insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, and chronic administration of a carefully determined dose of PS would inhibit the development of STZ-induced diabetes.