Exploring the anti-diabetic effects of a complementary formulation in rats with nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM), a leading non-communicable disease, necessitates cost-effective, safer alternatives, particularly in India where traditional medicine predominates. This study evaluated a compound Unani formulation (CUF) for antidiabetic potential using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in euglycemic rats and nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced NIDDM model in Wistar rats. Results CUF significantly attenuated glucose excursion during OGTT in euglycemic rats for up to 60 min across both dose levels. In the NIDDM model, CUF produced marked reductions in fasting blood glucose on days 14 and 28 of treatment. The formulation exhibited robust antioxidant activity, with results corroborating its traditional ethnopharmacological application in diabetes management. Conclusion CUF demonstrated significant antihyperglycemic effects in OGTT (euglycemic rats) and NIDDM models, alongside robust antioxidant activity, validating its traditional ethnopharmacological use for diabetes management.