[Antidiabetic activity of berberin and extract, obtained from the bark of Phellodendron lavalei, introduced in subtropic regions of Georgia, in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats].

The goal of the study was to identify antidiabetic impact of berberin and extract, obtained from the bark of Рhеllodendron lavalei, introduced in subtropic regions of Georgia. The study was conducted on Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Diabetes in animals was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in 1M citrate buffer, pH 4.5, dose 40 mg/kg per body weight, 1 ml volume. Treatment was conducted using berberin hydrochloride dose 150 mg/kg and extract of the bark of Рhеllodendron lavalei dose 400 mg/kg per orally, on an everyday basis, once a day during 3 weeks. The following indicators were measured: weight gain during the observation period, amount of food intake g/day, food efficiency ratio (%), relative mass of internal organs and blood glucose level. Blood glucose level was measured after 3 weeks from the day experiment started, after fasting all night. It was determined that per oral administration of berberin hydrochloride dose 150 mg/kg and extract of the bark of Рhеllodendron lavalei dose 400 mg/kg, during 3 weeks caused decrease in blood glucose level in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The marker of this efficacy was improvement of symptoms: decrease in hyperglycemic values, decrease in polyuria and polyphagia and relative weight of kidneys and heart, improvement of food efficiency ratio and mark decrease of weight loss. It should be noted that berberins antidiabetic activity was more marked. It is suggested that medicinal plants containing studied active components can be used as a crude drug for obtaining medicinal agent of promising antidiabetic phytotherapy and along with standard treatment can be used against metabolic syndrome and prevention of diabetes type 2.