Antidiabetic and antioxidant effect of Swietenia macrophylla seeds in experimental type 2 diabetic rats

The detrimental effects of diabetic complications are mainly mediated through oxidative stress. Despite considerable progress in the treatment of diabetes by insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents, search for newer drugs continue. Many studies have been carried out in search of a suitable plant drug that would be effective in diabetes mellitus. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Swietenia macrophylla seeds on blood glucose levels and oxidative stress in streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats. The Albino rat (Wister Strain) weighing 200–250 g were divided into five groups of six rats each and streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes except in the control group. The control group (I) and diabetic control group (II) received redistilled water. Group III and V diabetic rats were administered with aqueous extract of Swietenia macrophylla seeds (2 gm/kg body weight) daily for 30 days. Peptide was mixed with extract as adjuvant in the latter group (1:1, 2 g / kg body weight/ day for 30 days). Group IV diabetic rats were fed with aqueous extract of established drug Metformin (10 mg/kg body weight). The oral administration of extract alone (2 g / kg body) and extract plus soya peptide (1:1, 2 g / kg body weight) per day for 30 days to diabetic rats was found to possess significant hypoglycemic activity. The antioxidant activity in the blood of Swietenia macrophylla seeds extract-treated diabetic rats and aqueous extract of Swietenia macrophylla seeds, estimated by modified FORD test and expressed as Torlox equivalents also revealed significant antioxidant activity. The present study demonstrates that the aqueous extract of Swietenia macrophylla seeds have substantial anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. An extensive population based study is required in this direction, to establish this natural product as a therapeutic agent for diabetes mellitus.