The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of Murraya koenigii leaves (MKL) on blood glucose level and in prevention or management of diabetic neuropathy. In the present study the diabetic neuropathy was developed 9 weeks after single injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg i.v.) in rat. The treatment with MKL (300 and 500 mg/kg p.o.) was started after stabilization of blood glucose level (13 days after STZ) and evaluated for determination of glycemic level, glycated haemoglobin, grip strength, pain sensitivity and threshold. The result showed that the treatment with MKL possessed hypoglycemic effect in diabetic treated animals. The results also indicated that the decreases in the grip strength in diabetic animals represented the induction of neuropathy 9 weeks after STZ treatment. Prior treatments with MKL increased the grip strength of diabetic rats. The results of pain sensitivity indicated the loss of pain perception in diabetic animals because of nerve damage. While prior treatment with MKL upto 9 week in diabetic animals resulted in the increase in the licking time and withdrawal latency in hot plate and tail flick tests, respectively, which indicates the presence of pain perception and prevention of nerve damage due to protective effect of MKL in progression of diabetic neuropathic pain. Therefore, the present study concludes that the chronic treatment with MKL significantly decreased the glycemic level as well as it protected the animals against development of diabetic neuropathy.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic neuropathy; Murraya koenigii; Pain perception.