EVALUATION OF IN VIVO ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF COLEUS FORSKOHLII ROOT EXTRACT (COLEGEX®) BY DETERMINATION OF GLYCEMIC INDEX AND ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT) IN WISTAR RATS

Diabetes is one of the most lethal metabolic illnesses, with high fatality rates across the globe. Many ailments, including diabetes and its complications, have been treated with the help of medicinal plants in traditional medicine since the dawn of time. These medicinal plants are widely accepted, inexpensive, and thought to have few unfavourable side effects. The Lamiaceae family is a possible source of medicinal compounds for the treatment of metabolic illnesses, such as diabetes. Based on the rise in postprandial blood glucose, meals high in carbohydrates are classied according to their glycemic index. The sudden increase in blood glucose that occurs right after eating is known as postprandial hyperglycemia. This study aims to investigate the glycemic index of Coleus forskohlii root extract (Colegex®) in Wistar rats. When compared to the pathological control group, the Colegex® group demonstrated a mid-level glycemic index of 63.72% and maintained the blood glucose levels. The effectiveness of Colegex® was evaluated in experimental rats using an oral glucose tolerance test to measure postprandial blood sugar levels. When compared to the pathological control group, the administered Colegex® demonstrated good glycaemic control as it was seen to maintain blood glucose levels. The glycemic index and OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) results for C. forskohlii root extract (Colegex®) have demonstrated good glycaemic control and signicant reduction in blood glucose levels compared to the pathological control group. Hence, Colegex® has the potential to be developed into a new oral antidiabetic drug for the management of diabetes mellitus.