Hypoglycaemic and other related actions of Tinospora cordifolia roots in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Tinospora cordifolia is widely used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for treati ng diabetes mellitus. Oral administration of an aqueous T. cordifolia root extract (TCREt) to alloxan diabetic rats caused a significant reduction in blood glucose and brain lipids. The extract caused an increase in body weig ht, total haemoglobin and hepatic hexokinase. The root extract also lowers hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase and serum acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphat ase, and lactate dehydrogenase in diabetic rats. Thus TCREt has hypoglycaem ic and hypolipidaemic effect. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.