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Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by
hyperglycemia and insufficiency of secretion or action of endogenous
insulin. In addition to a good number of known antidiabetic drugs in the
market, remedies from natural source are used with success to manage this
disease because it has fewer adverse effects, potential cost effectiveness
and it is easily available. Coconut water (Cocos nucifera L.) has many
medicinal applications to treat metabolic syndromes including
hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, etc. The present study was
aimed to evaluate the effects of mature coconut water (MCW) on carbohydrate
metabolism in experimentally induced diabetes. Methodology: Diabetes was
induced in rats by injecting them with alloxan (150mg/kg body weight)
intraperitoneally. After inducing diabetes with alloxan, MCW was given
(4ml/100g body weight) to rats orally for 45 days. Effects of MCW on blood
glucose, glycated hemoglobin, liver glycogen, various carbohydrate
metabolizing enzymes and pancreas were evaluated in normal and experimental
rats. Results: Oral administration of MCW in diabetic rats showed a
significant reduction in blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels with
improvement in plasma insulin levels. Activities of carbohydrate
metabolizing enzymes were higher in MCW treated diabetic rats along with
increased concentration of liver glycogen. Histopathological analysis of
pancreas revealed that treatment with MCW reduced the pancreatic damage
induced by alloxan and stimulated @b-cell regeneration in diabetic rats.
Conclusion: The overall results show that MCW exert significant
antihyperglycemic potential and could be developed as a potent drug
candidate or nutraceutical for the management of diabetes and associated
complications.
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