Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) pierre in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The plant Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Pierre of family Leguminosae sub-family Papilioanaceae was evaluated for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. A new difuranoflavonone Compound PP (named Pongamiaflavonol), isolated from methanlolic extract of P. pinnata pods by column chromatography, was also studied for the activity. It was observed that after 14 days of treatment blood glucose level was reduced by 66.34, 54.82, 63.62 and 67.48 % with Std. Glibenclamiade 3 mg kg^-1), P. pinnata pods (300 mg kg^-1), P. pinnata flowers (300 mg kg^-1) and PP (100 mg kg^-1), respectively. The lipid profile was also studied and was found to be normalized significantly by both the flowers and pods extracts of P. pinnata and compound PP.