ORIGINAL PAPER Effect of homeopathic preparations of Syzygium jambolanum and Cephalandra indica on gastrocnemius muscle of high fat and high fructose-induced type-2 diabetic rats Sathish Sampath 1 , Akilavalli Narasimhan 1 , Raveendar Chinta 2 , KR Janardanan Nair 2 , Anil Khurana 2 , Debadatta Nayak 2 , Alok Kumar 2 and Balasubramanian Karundevi 1, * 1 Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Sekkizhar Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India 2 Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, 61-65, Institutional Area, Opp. D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110 058, India Background: Homeopathy is a holistic method of treatment that uses microdoses of natural substances originating from plants, minerals, or animal parts. Syzygium jambo- lanum and Cephalandra indica are used in homeopathy for treatment of type-2 diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for such effects are not known. Methods: Homeopathic preparations of S. jambolanum and C. indica in mother tinc- ture, 6c and 30c were used to examine the molecular mechanism of antidiabetic effects in the skeletal muscle of rats with high fat and fructose-induced type-2 diabetes mellitus. After 30 days treatment, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin and insulin signaling mol- ecules in the skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) were measured. Results: Diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in serum insulin and lipid profile as well as low levels of insulin receptor (IR), v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homo- log (Akt), p-Akt ser473 and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) protein expression (p < 0.05) with a significant increase in fasting blood glucose level (p < 0.05) compared to the con- trol group. Treatment with homeopathic remedies significantly increased the serum in- sulin and expression of these proteins (p < 0.05) with a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05) compared to diabetic rats. Conclusions: In the present study homeopathic preparations of S. jambolanum and C. indica, including ultramolecular dilutions exhibit antidiabetic effects, improving insulin action through activation of insulin signaling molecules in skeletal muscle of type-2 dia- betic rats. Homeopathy (2013) 102, 160e171. Keywords: Insulin signaling; Homeopathic preparation; Syzygium jambolanum and Cephalandra indica; Gastrocnemius muscle Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder, currently affecting over 170 million people worldwide and potentially over 365 million in the year 2030. 1 Type-2 DM is rapidly emerging as one of the greatest global health challenges of the 21st century. The major pathophysiological event contributing to the development of type-2 DM is the resistance of target tis- sues to insulin, which is usually associated with abnormal *Correspondence: Karundevi Balasubramanian, Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Sekkizhar Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India. E-mail: kbala82@rediffmail.com Received 21 October 2012; revised 30 April 2013; accepted 7 May 2013 Homeopathy (2013) 102, 160e171 Ó 2013 The Faculty of Homeopathy http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2013.05.002, available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com