Effect of Helicteres isora Bark Extract on Protein Metabolism and Marker Enzymes in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

The present study investigated the possible protective effect of Helicteres isora (Sterculiaceae) bark extracts on certain biochemical markers in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. STZ treatment (60 mg/kg/i.p) caused a hyperglycemic state that led to various physiological and biochemical alterations. Blood levels of glucose, urea, uric acid and creatinine, plasma levels of albumin and albumin/globulin ratio and the activities of diagnostic marker enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ -GT) in plasma, liver and kidney were markedly altered in STZ diabetic rats. Oral administration of H. isora (100, 200 mg/kg/p.o) for 21 days restored all these biochemical parameters to near normal levels. Thus, the present results have shown that H. isora bark extract has the antihyperglycemic effect and consequently may alleviate liver and renal damage associated with STZ-induced diabetes in rats.