ISSN : 2249- 5746 International Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine 8:1 (2018) 3104–3111 Journal homepage:http://www.interscience.org.uk DOI:10.18535/ijahm/v8i1.08 Impact Factor: 4.415 Page 3104 Alloxan Induced Diabetes and Impairment of Oxidative Defense System In Rat Pancreas : Protective Effect of Actinopteris Dichotoma 1 P.Sailaja Rao , 2 Mehnoor Farheen , 3 Prakash V Diwan 1 Associate Professor, Sri Venkateshwara College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad-81, Telangana State, India 2 Assistant Professor, Shadan Women’s college of Pharmacy, Hyderabad-81, Telangana State, India 3 Professor, Maratha Mandal’s Central Research Laboratory, Belgaum-590 006, Karnataka, India. * Address for Correspondance : SriVenkateshwara College of Pharmacy, Madhapur, Hyderabad-81. ABSTRACT: The present study was aimed to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic activity and in vivo anti-oxidant effect of ethyl acetate extract of Actinopteris dichotoma.It is commonly known as peacock’s tail which belongs to the family Pteridaceae. Ethyl acetate extract of whole plant of Actinopteris dichotoma (EAAD) was prepared by Soxhlet extraction. Wistar rats weighing (180-200 gms) were divided into 6 groups (n=6), and three doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) of extract were selected. Insulin was used as a standard drug. Diabetes was induced by alloxan (120mg/kg, i.p) in control group. The animals were pre-treated with the extracts at specified doses for a period of 14 days.On 21 st day, the blood glucose levels along with anti- oxidant enzymes like Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidase (LPO) were also determined in all animals. Histopathological studies were also performed to observe the effect of test drug on pancreas.The EEAD at 200 mg/kg body weight showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels (p<0.001) with the value of 150.6 mg/dl on 21 st day as compared to the diabetic control. Also, the extract showed significant improvement in SOD and CAT with 35.61 and 40.56 U/mg of protein. Histopatho study of pancreatic tissue exhibited normal exocrine structure with less hemorrhage or damage in endocrine portion.These results suggest that ethyl acetate extracts of Actiniopteris dichotoma Bedd at the dose of 200 mg/kg showed anti-hyperglycemic effect with a substantial evidence of increased pancreatic cell viability as compared to the diabetic control. KEYWORDS: Ethyl acetate, Alloxan, Blood glucose, Actinopteris dichotoma, Pancreas. INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia with hampered metabolism of vital biological components like carbohydrate, protein and lipids. The effects are mainly due to the defective insulin secretion, loss of insulin receptors or both. [1] Earliercentury in India, two physicians “Charaka and Susruta” reported the disease. However, in 18 th -19 th century hyperglycaemia is less visualized clinically, identified by uncontrolled glycosuria and usually diagnosed in later stage of life, currently it is recognized as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Persistent higher blood glucose levels generate free radicals that may lead to the development of oxidative stress in distinct parts of the body which further culminate to various complications such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, chronic kidney failure, ocular damage and vascular diseases. Free radicals are highly unstable reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced regularly in various normal biological reactions in the human system. Whenever these free radicals are produced, their effects are monitored by defense system of the body which includes antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and lipid peroxidase (LPO). [2] This “oxidative shielding” acts as a protective mechanism to counter the attack of toxic pathogens or noxious chemicals or to destruct the cell by apoptosis and thus preventing its advancement to neighboring cells. [3] The term “oxidative stress” is biological state in which ROS and RNS level attain a