Antioxidant activity of Tinospora cordifolia roots in experimental diabetes

We made an attempt to study the antioxidant properties of Tinospora cordifo lia roots, an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic medicine in India in allox an diabetic rats. Oral administration of an aqueous T. cordifolia root extr act (TCREt) (2.5 and 5.0 g/kg) for 6 weeks resulted in a decrease in the le vels of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, ceruloplasmin and a lpha-tocopherol in alloxan diabetic rats. The root extract also causes an i ncrease in the levels of glutathione and vitamin C in alloxan diabetes. The root extract at a dose of 5.0 g/kg showed the highest effect. The effect o f TCREt was more effective than glibenclamide, Insulin restored all the par ameters to near normal levels. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All r ights reserved.