Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., Vol.27, No.1, January 2014, pp.161-167 161 *Corresponding author: e-mail: periyar.india@gmail.com Beneficial effects of mangiferin isolated from Salacia chinensis on biochemical and hematological parameters in rats with streptozotocin- induced diabetes Periyar Selvam Sellamuthu 1*2 , Palanisamy Arulselvan 3 , Sharida Fakurazi 3 and Murugesan Kandasamy 1 1 Lab No.102, Centre for Advanced studies in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India 2 Department of Food Process Engineering, School of Bio-Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu, India. 3 Laboratory of Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Abstract: Salacia chinensis L. is a traditional Southeast Asian herbal medicine and used in the treatment of diabetes. To investigate the antidiabetic properties of mangiferin from Salacia chinensis and its beneficial effect on toxicological and hematological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Mangiferin was orally treated with the dose of 40 mg/kg body weight/day for 30 days to diabetic rats. Biochemical (blood glucose, uric acid, urea and creatinine), toxicological (AST, ALT and ALP) and hematological parameters (red and white blood cells) and their functional indices were evaluated in diabetic treated groups with mangiferin and glibenclamide. Mangiferin treated diabetic rats significantly (p<0.05) lowered the level of blood glucose, in addition, altered the levels of biochemical parameters including urea, uric acid, and creatinine. Toxicological parameters including AST, ALT and ALP were also significantly reduced after treatment with mangiferin in diabetic rats. Similarly, the levels of red blood, white blood cells and their functional indices were significantly improved through the administration of mangiferin. Thus, our results indicate that mangiferin present in S. chinensis possesses antidiabetic properties and nontoxic nature against chemically induced diabetic rats. Further experimental investigations are warrant to make use of its relevant therapeutic effect to substantiate its ethno-medicinal usage. Keywords: Diabetes, hematological parameters, mangiferin, Salacia chinensis, streptozotocin. INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome, primarily considered as a loss of glucose homeostasis because of the insulin action and/or secretion or both. Current epidemiological data represented that there are more than 150 million people in the world affected by diabetes mellitus and probably, increases up to 300 million or even more in 2025 (Wild et al., 2004). Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) report, diabetes is an ever-growing endocrine disorder. All parts of global population are affected by diabetes whereas higher in Asia and Europe countries (World Diabetes Foundation [WDF], 2010). Specific concern for this rise based on the epidemiological parameters which include sedentary lifestyle, intake of energy rich diet, and obesity (American Diabetes Association, 2010). Diabetes has been treated with standard drugs which act as hypoglycemic components and/or insulin production modulators (Ogbonnia et al., 2008). Type 2 diabetes is treated with sulfonylurea and metformin whereas they are not frequently maintain the blood glucose level within the normal range (Senthilvel et al., 2006). These drugs are limited pharmacokinetic activities, even though when effective glycaemic control is achieved, the use of these drugs is restricted by their pharmacokinetic properties, secondary failure proportions and accompanied adverse effects (Egwim, 2005). Meanwhile the remedy is lifelong therapeutic agents lack of adverse property should be appreciated and one among the approach is the use of alternative system of medicine comprising herbal products (Arulselvan and Subramanian, 2008). Hence, there is a great need for a search of a suitable, inexpensive and safe blood glucose reducing effective remedy for diabetes and also useful to avoid adverse effects from presently available oral anti-diabetic drugs. Traditional drugs of numerous ethnic societies and epidemiological records are primary source to find out a natural products or their active ingredient for the prevention or remedy of chronic illnesses (Ribeiro and Salvadori, 2003). Nowadays looking for nontoxic and effective medicinal plants, those having antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties are very essential for the treatment of chronic metabolic syndrome including diabetes. Mangiferin is a xanthone glucoside and an active phytochemical present as a principal constituent of Salacia chinensis (Periyar selvam et al., 2009). Salacia chinensis Linn. (Hippocrateaceae) roots are used in indigenous system of medicine. Mangiferin is also termed C-glucosyl xanthone and 2-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-