Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity of water extract from Anoectochilus roxburghii in experimental diabetes.

The hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of the water extract from Anoectochilus roxburghii in alloxan-induced diabetic mice were examined. Compared with untreated diabetic mice, the daily oral administration of the water extract from A. roxburghii at 0.5 or 2 g/kg for 14 days caused a significant decrease (p<.05) in blood glucose levels with similar effect but no evidence of dose-related effect. Simultaneously, the alteration in lipid metabolism was partially attenuated as evidenced by decreased serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and by increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in diabetic mice (p<.05) but no dose-related effect was observed. In addition, the water extract from A. roxburghii caused a significant increase (p<.05) in the activities of enzymic antioxidants and the levels of vitamin E in liver and kidney of diabetic mice. Our results suggest that water extract from A. roxburghii possesses hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties after oral administration to mice showing alloxan-induced diabetes.