SUMMARY
Murraya koenigii leaves (Rutaceae) are used traditionally in Indian Ayurvedic system to treat diabetes. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of mahanimbine (carbazole alkaloid from Murraya koenigii leaves) on blood glucose and serum lipid profiles on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats by intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (45mg/kg). Mahanimbine (50 and 100mg/kg) were administrated as a single dose per week to the diabetic rats for 30 days. The control group received 0.3% w/v sodium carboxy methyl cellulose for the same duration. Fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profiles were measured in the diabetic and non-diabetic rats. In addition, in vitro alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitory effects of mahanimbine were performed. Results: In the diabetic rats, the elevated fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein levels were reduced and high density lipoprotein level was increased by mahanimbine at a dose of 50 and 100mg/kg (i.p). In addition, mahanimbine showed appreciable alpha amylase inhibitory effect and weak alpha glucosidase inhibitory effects when compared with acarbose. Conclusions: The present study indicated that mahanimbine possess anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipidemic effects. Thus results suggesting mahanimbine has beneficial effect in the management of diabetes associated with abnormal lipid profile and related cardiovascular complications.Keywords: Streptozotocin; Hypoglycemic; Hypolipidemic; Mahanimbine