Antihyperglycemic Activity of Syzygium cumini (Jamun) in Diabetic Rats

Background: Recently with the changes in population lifestyle, prediabetes is constantly on the rise. Management of prediabetes currently is with lifestyle modifications like weight loss, exercise and diet control. Better drugs with acceptable safety profile are needed for better control of prediabetes. This study was thus designed to evaluate the antihyperglycaemic effect of one such potential compound Syzygium cumini (SC) (Jamun)in comparison to conventional antidiabetic drug Metformin.

Methods: Rats were divided into four study groups (SC 100mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, metformin 90 mg/kg and SC 200 mg/kg with metformin 90 mg/kg). The glycaemic changes were followed up for a period of 8 weeks.

Results: Streptozotocin (STZ) induced significant rise in blood glucose levels in the rats. SC100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg caused a reduction in BSL (192.50 ± 6.189 & 175.00 ± 6.782 respectively). SC 200 mg/kg alone and in combination with metformin caused a significant reduction in HbA1C levels at the end of 8th week (8.84 ± 0.65 &6.86 ± 0.40 respectively) as compared to their baseline levels. Increase in dose had led to more significant reduction in BSL at the end of 8th week in groups A & B (p < 0.05). However, reduction of BSL was superior with Metforminalone (159.17 ± 13.060) compared to Syzygium cumini administered alone. Also antihyperglycemic effect of Syzygium cumini administered along with metformin was significant (p < 0.05) compared to either doses of Syzygium cumini given alone.

Conclusions: Syzygium cumini demonstratedantihyperglycemic activity in diabetic rats but less significant when compared to metformin. Antihyperglycaemic effect of Syzygium cumini with metformin was significantly better than either drugsgiven alone. In prediabetic or diabeticindividuals Syzygium cumini seed powdercan be suggested as a potential add-on therapy with conventional antidiabetic drugs. However more non-clinical and clinical studies need to be conducted to confirm the findings.