ABSTRACT
Oral administration of the ethanol extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima seeds [CP-250 and 500 mg/kg] caused significant fall in blood glucose levels even at 2[nd] hrs after a single dose of treatment in normal fasted and glucose loaded Wistar rats. At 250 mg/kg dose level, CP prevented the elevation of blood glucose caused by oral glucose feeding. In alloxan diabetic rats, CP at 250 mg/kg could lower the blood glucose level to around 132 mg/100 ml from 10th day and thereafter. The biochemical findings were supported by histopathological studies of liver, kidney and pancreas of control and treated rats. CP administration increased catalase levels of diabetic rats. Reduced levels of serum protein and elevated levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [SGOT], serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and uric acid were almost normalised in CP treated diabetic rats. CP also reduced in vitro lipid peroxidation in rats liver microsomes and inhibit 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl [DPPH] induced free radicals significantly