Assessment of antidiabetic potential of Berberis lycium Royle root bark extract in experimental animal model

Background: Various medicines are in practice for the treatment of diabetes mellitus but phyto-based medicines got paramount importance in this regard. The current investigation focused on inspection of antidiabetic potential of Berberis lycium Royle root bark extract. Methods: α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assay were performed for the evaluation of in-vitro antidiabetic activity. In-vivo antidiabetic potential was estimated in alloxan-induced swiss albino mice. Diabetic mice were treated with aqueous root bark extract (200 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days. At the end of 28 days treatment period mice were sacrificed for biochemical and histopathological analysis of pancreas, liver and kidney. Results: Blood glucose level and all other biochemical parameters were significantly normalized when treated with B. lycium Royle root bark extract. Results of both in-vitro and in-vivo activity showed that B. lycium Royle has antidiabetic effect. Conclusion: B. lycium Royle root bark extract presented efficient antidiabetic activity in the diabetic mice model and therefore could have potential for development of drugs in the future. Keywords: Diabetes, alloxan, medicinal plants, Berberis lycium Royle