Lowering of blood sugar by water extract of Azadirachta indica and Abroma augusta in diabetes rats.

Combination (1:1 ) of water extract of dried powder of root and leaves (200 mg/kg body wt) of A. augusta and A. indica respectively was administered orally to alloxan diabetic rats once a day for 8 weeks. This treatment caused significant lowering of blood sugar in fasted as estimated by glucose tolerance test. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction in serum lipids. Aqueous extract also decreased the formation of lipid peroxides estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, (TBARS), and increased antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase) in erythrocytes. There was reduction in LPO as TBARS in heart, liver, kidney, and muscles. It also prevented decrease in body weight. Present study showed that Abroma augusta roots and A. indica leaves when given together as water extract had hypoglycaemic action and had better effect than given alone.