Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidemic activity of Tinospora cordifolia root extract on aflatoxin B1-induced toxicity in mice

Abstract

Aflatoxin, a fungal mycotoxins are potent hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic agent. Tinospora cordifolia (Menispermaceae) is an ayurvedic herb and has wide range of traditional use in different diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypolipidemic and hypoglycaemic effect of ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia root on aflatoxin B₁-induced toxicity. Aflatoxin was administered orally (2µg /30g body weight, 0.2 ml day ) to mice of each group except control, group III, group IV and group V. Different doses of plant extract of Tinospora cordifolia were given to all groups except control and aflatoxin B₁ administered group. The entire study was carried out for 75 days and animals were scarified after an interval of 25 days till the completion of study. From the current study it was illustrated that the Tinospora cordifolia significantly recovered the body weight, liver weight, kidney weight and also showed the hypolipidemic and hypoglycaemic activity by lowering down the level of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL, blood glucose and enhancing the level of HDL cholesterol. The overall data indicated that Tinospora cordifolia possess potent hypolipidemic effect against aflatoxin B₁-induced atherosclerosis, and the main mechanism involved in protection could be associated with its strong hypoglycaemic property.