Investigation of anti-hyperglycemic activity
Induction of diabetes
Diabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate in fasted male rats at the dose
150 mg/kg [20]. Alloxan was freshly dissolved in 0.85 % (w/v) NaCl. Diabetic rats were orally given
5 % glucose solution overnight after alloxan injection to prevent hypoglycemia. On the third day, rats with
fasting blood glucose level higher than 250 mg/dl were considered as diabetic rats and used in the experiment.
Animals were divided into four groups, and each group included five rats as follows: group I (NC), normal
control rats received sterile water; group II (DM), diabetic control rats received sterile water, group III (DM+
extract), diabetic rats treated with D. reticulata extract at 250 mg/kg; and group IV (DM+glib), diabetic rats
treated with glibenclamide tablets 20mg/kg. The extract and standard drug were administered once a day for
15 days. The freshly prepared solutions were orally administered to animals by gastric intubation with force
feeding needle.