A study on toxicity and anti-hyperglycemic effects of Abhrak Bhasma in rats

Abhrak bhasma (AB) is widely used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM); however, no scientific study is reported till date on its efficacy and safety to prove it's pharmacological effects. Streptozotocin (STZ) is a gulcosamine-nitrosourea complex produced by Streptomyces achromogenes, which particularly induces DNA strand breakage in pancreatic β-cells causing DM. The damage caused by STZ to pancreatic β-cells is coupled with insulin release in the initial stage, subsequently leading to hyperglycemia owing to insulin deficiency.

In the present study, the safety and effectiveness of AB was evaluated by invivo acute and sub-acute toxicity study and STZ-induced hyperglycemic activity in rats.

Acute oral toxicity assessed as per OECD 425 guidelines by employing up-down procedure (UDP), sub-acute toxicity as per OECD-407 guidelines and anti-hyperglycemic activity using STZ method. The anti-hyperglycemic potential of AB in rats (40, 80, and 160 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) was evaluated by determining the body weight, blood glucose, organ weight, lipid profile, and histo-morphological and histo-pathological investigations.

The highest tolerated dose of AB was 2000 mg/kg b.w., and sub-acute toxicity of different AB doses showed no significant variation, when compared with the control. Interestingly, a noteworthy reduction in blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were observed in AB-treated diabetic rats, along with a considerable increase in body weight, when compared with those noted in the disease control and normal control.

Effectiveness of AB as a potential safe and potent candidate for the treatment of diabetes was revealed as compared to the standard drug Metformin by STZ-induced method.