Antidiabetic effect of withanolides and liraglutide on serum insulin level and pancreatic histology in diabetic rats

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia and occurs as a result of insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cells failure to compensate. Present study was conducted to determine the antidiabetic effect of Withania coagulans and liraglutide on postprandial serum insulin levels and pancreatic histological features in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat. Study Design: This Randomized Control Trial. Setting: At multidisciplinary lab Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with Animal House, National Institute of Health, Islamabad. Period: From March 2016 to April 2017. Material and Methods: Forty male Sprague daily rats were randomly divided into normal Control Group A (n=10) and Experimental Group (n=30). Experimental group was given streptozotocin (30mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 5 days and diabetes was confirmed in experimental group by measuring fasting blood glucose level (mg/dl). Experimental group was divided further into Group B (Diabetic control), Group C (Withania coagulans treated) and Group D (Liraglutide treated). Group C were given Withania coagulans in addition to normal diet and Group D received Liraglutide besides normal diet for 30 days. Second sampling for evaluating postprandial serum insulin level and pancreatic histology was done after 30 days. Result: Postprandial serum insulin levels of Withania coagulans treated Group C (5.54 + 0.23 μU/ml) and Liraglutide treated Group D (6.06 + 0.17 μU/ml) were significantly raised in comparison with Diabetic control Group B (3.50 + 0.19 μU/ml), whereas islets of Langerhans cell morphology were markedly improved in Group C and D as compared to Group B. Conclusion: Withania coagulans significantly increases postprandial serum insulin level and improves pancreatic beta cells architecture.