Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 7(2): February 2014 191 ISSN 0974-3618 www.rjptonline.org RESEARCH ARTICLE Antihyperglycemic, Hypoglycemic and Cytotoxic Activity of Albizia lebbek and Trigonella corniculata Jahanzeb Khan*, Muhammad Asad Saeed, Saad Touqeer, Sharjeel Adnan, Zeeshan Masood, Muhammad Zaman Department of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. *Corresponding Author E-mail: zaib_zaib94@yahoo.com ABSTRACT: Antihyperglycemic, hypoglycemic and cytotoxic activities of methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck and Trigonella corniculata were studied. Hypoglycemic action of plants was investigated using normoglycemic rabbits (acute study only), whereas antihyperglycemic activity was studied using alloxan induced diabetic rabbits (acute and chronic study). Results revealed both plant extracts and their mixture having significant anti diabetic potential at dose of 200mg/kg comparable to standard drug Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg). Brine shrimp assay was used for the determination of cytotoxicity and results showed plants to have low toxic potential (LD50>1000 μg). The study conducted proves both plants and their mixture to have high potential for the treatment of diabetes. KEYWORDS: Antidiabetic; Alloxan; Rabbit; Methanolic; Ethnopharmacology. INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder found worldwide. It is characterized by hyperglycemia, the major sign of the disease, resulting from either defect in insulin secretion, action or both. Type II Diabetes is the most common type found in which there is decreased action of insulin together with low plasma insulin levels. In type I there is complete deficiency of insulin due to defect in the endocrine function of pancreas. Type II or NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) has spread like an epidemic in many countries and 90-95% of the diabetic patients suffer from this type. 1,2 Toxicity studies are routinely performed by scientists on plant extracts and isolated compounds in order to determine their safety. Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) are often sensitive to bioactive compounds and small amount of sample can cause death of the animal thus proving the cytotoxic potential of the substance under investigation. 4,5 Medicinal plants are of great importance for the treatment of diseases and different compounds isolated from them are used in modern medicine. Albizia lebbeck belongs to the family Fabaceae has been traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, constipation and purities. 6 Received on 03.12.2013 Modified on 01.01.2014 Accepted on 10.01.2014 © RJPT All right reserved Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 7(2): Feb. 2014; Page 191-195 It has been studied for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-oxidant, diuretic any many other activities thus proving it to be a very useful medicinal plant. 7-10 Trigonella corniculata is an annual herb that belongs to family Fabaceae. It is used as food and also as a medicinal herb for the treatment of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. Studies show the plant having antioxidant and hepatoprotective activites. 11 In the present study, we evaluated the antidiabetic and cytotoxic potential of Albizia lebbeck and Trigonella corniculata. Antidiabetic activity was studied in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rabbits with the extracts separately and the mixture of extracts whereas cytotoxic acivity was studied against Artemia salina. 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plant material used: The plant material was collected from different parts of Lahore. Plants were identified and authenticated by Dr. Muhammad Ajaib, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Herbarium, Govt. College University, Lahore. The voucher number for Trigonella corniculata and Albizia lebbeck were GC.Bot.Herb.2208 and GC.Bot.Herb.2209 respectively. The plant material was shade dried at room temperature and ground to coarse powder and stored in air tight polyethylene bags.