European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATION OF ALLOXAN INDUCED ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF CROTON CAJUCARA LEAF AND ROOT EXTRACTS

*Rudrabhishek Yadav, Ashutosh Mishra, Rekha Gour, Shailendra Modi

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic potential of ethanolic leaf and root extracts of Croton cajucara using alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Leaves and roots of Croton cajucara were sequentially extracted using petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. The extracts were screened for α-amylase inhibitory activity, followed by phytochemical analysis and thin-layer chromatography. Acute oral toxicity was evaluated according to OECD guideline 423. Antidiabetic activity was assessed in alloxan-induced diabetic rats at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, with glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) serving as the standard drug. Blood glucose levels were monitored during hypoglycemic, oral glucose tolerance, and 14-day antidiabetic studies. The ethanolic extract exhibited the strongest α-amylase inhibitory activity and contained flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, and terpenoids. In vivo studies demonstrated a significant, dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose levels, with the 400 mg/kg dose showing effects comparable to glibenclamide. The extract was found to be safe up to 2000 mg/kg in the acute toxicity study. The ethanolic extract of Croton cajucara possesses significant antidiabetic activity, likely mediated through α-amylase inhibition and phytoconstituents such as quercetin and kaempferol. These findings support its potential as a promising natural therapeutic candidate for diabetes management and warrant further phytochemical isolation and clinical investigation.

Keywords: Croton cajucara, Diabetes mellitus, Alloxan-induced diabetes, ?-Amylase inhibition, Antidiabetic activity.