Authors
Prathmesh R Gargate, Chitra Khanwelkar, Vandana M Thorat, Sujata Jadhav, Anjali Shinde, Kaushalendra Mani
Published in
Cureus. Volume 18. Issue 7. Pages e111923. Epub Jul 01, 2026.
Abstract
Introduction Diabetes is among the many known chronic diseases resulting from the inability of the body to produce insulin. The use of traditional drugs such as sulfonylurea, biguanide, and thiazolidinediones has been associated with some side effects, hence making researchers turn their attention toward herbal medicine as a treatment or prevention option for diabetes. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate and compare the metabolic effects of allantoin (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg), metformin (500 mg/kg), and their combination on blood glucose and body weight in low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Methods An in vivo study employed a randomized, controlled, parallel-group, preclinical experimental design consisting of a total of 36 young adult (8-10 weeks old) male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighing 200-260 g, which were randomly assigned to six experimental groups, namely, G1 to G6. G1 and G2 served as non-diabetic and diabetic controls administered intraperitoneally (ip) with 2 ml of normal saline (NS) and STZ 45 mg/kg + 2 ml NS, respectively. G3, G4, G5, and G6 groups served as treatment groups and received STZ 45 mg/kg, concurrently administered intraperitoneally with allantoin (ALN) 5 mg/kg, ALN 10 mg/kg, metformin (MET) 500 mg/kg (oral), and ALN 5 mg/kg (ip) + MET 500 mg/kg (oral), respectively. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) estimation was done for nine days daily after STZ injection, after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus on the 9th/10th day, and on the 28th day of treatment. Body weight of experimental animals was recorded once weekly on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results FBS levels differed significantly among groups at baseline and day 28 (p < 0.0001). Diabetic controls maintained persistently elevated glucose levels, whereas ALN treatment at 5 mg/kg (301.17 ± 11.18 vs. 218.33 ± 10.11; -82.84; p < 0.001) and ALN 10 mg/kg (302.83 ± 5.08 vs. 171.17 ± 7.88; -131.66; p < 0.001) significantly reduced FBS in a dose-dependent manner. Metformin monotherapy markedly improved glycemic control (297.00 ± 17.73 vs. 126.00 ± 10.10; -171.00; p < 0.001), while combination therapy with ALN and metformin produced the greatest reduction in glucose levels (302.50 ± 11.41 vs. 120.00 ± 9.57; -182.50; p < 0.001), suggesting additive antihyperglycemic effects. ALN 10 mg/kg significantly increased body weight (p = 0.002). Conclusion Allantoin, particularly along with metformin, offers promising therapeutic potential for the management of diabetes and associated metabolic alterations.
PMID:
42542595
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Aug 2026.
Read full publication at:
Please sign in
to see all details.
Advertisement
Stats
- Recommendations n/a n/a positive of 0 vote(s)
- Views 7
- Comments 0