Emblica officinalis improves glycemic status and oxidative stress in STZ induced type 2 diabetic model rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis (E. officinalis) fruit on normal and type 2 diabetic rats. METHODS: Type 2 diabetes was induced into the male Long-Evans rats. The rats were divided into nine groups including control groups receiving water, type 2 diabetic controls, type 2 diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (T2GT) and type 2 diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of E. officinalis. They were fed orally for 8 weeks with a single feeding. Blood was collected by cutting the tail tip on 0 and 28 days and by decapitation on 56 day. Packed red blood cells and serum were used for evaluating different biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Four weeks administration of aqueous extract of E. officinalis improved oral glucose tolerance in type 2 rats and after 8 weeks it caused significant (P<0.007) reduction in fasting serum glucose level compared to 0 day. Triglycerides decreased by 14% but there was no significant change in serum ALT, creatinine, cholesterol and insulin level in any group. Furthermore, reduced erythrocyte malondialdehyde level showed no significant change (P<0.07) but reduced glutathione content was found to be increased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The aqueous extract of E. officinalis has a promising antidiabetic and antioxidant properties and may be considered for further clinical studies in drug development.