Effect of Psoralea corylifolia on dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance in mice

The whole plant of Psoralea corylifolia (PC) is traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes. Mice were treated with prestandardised dose of dexamethasone for 22 days and effect of PC at the doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, p.o. on plasma blood glucose level, serum triglyceride level, glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, levels of hepatic antioxidant enzymes (GSH, SOD, catalase and LPO), and body weight were observed. PC showed significant decrease in plasma glucose and serum triglyceride levels (p 0.01) at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. and also stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. The levels of antioxidant enzymes GSH, SOD, and catalase were significantly increased (p 0.01) and there was significant decrease (p 0.01) in level of LPO. Hence it can be concluded that Psoralea carylifolia may prove to be effective in the treatment of Type-II Diabetes mellitus owing to its ability to decrease insulin resistance.