SUMMARY
Aim and Objective: The present study was designed to assess antidiabetic, hypolipidimic, antioxidant and histopathological effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (EHBS) root on alloxan-induced diabetes in rats . Materials and Methods: Study was conducted on six groups with six wistar rats in each group for the period of 4 weeks. Group I: served as normal control (NC), rats administered with gum acacia 1 ml daily, group II: consider as diabetic control (DC) treated with alloxon 150 mg/kg body wt. Whereas Hibiscus rosa-sinensis roots extract was given orally in group III (DE1), group IV (DE2), group V (DE3) at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight dissolved in distilled water respectively. Group VI (DG) was given glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) as a standard drug and results were compared in reference to it. Results: Administration of root extract for 28 days resulted in significant decreased in the levels of blood glucose, plasma lipids but increases in HDL levels, also significant decrease in plasma MDA level as well as increased in SOD level in a dose dependent manner. Histological examination of pancreas has shown increase in diameter as well as number of beta cells which indicates the proliferation with regeneration of beta cells after 28 day treatment with root extract of HRS in rats. Root extract of hibiscus is more efficacious in antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity than glibenclamide. Conclusion: Root extract of HRS may be a safe and better alternative available over the antidiabetic agents with minimal adverse effects. Before establishing it as an antidiabetic agent for human use, clinical trial will be required.