Efficacy of coumarin on hepatic key enzymes of glucose metabolism in chemical induced type 2 diabetic rats

The study was undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of coumarin on carbohydrate metabolic key enzymes in control and streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NA)-induced diabetic rats. On oral administration of coumarin at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight per day to diabetic rats for 45 days; resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA₁c) and increase in the levels of insulin and hemoglobin. Administration of coumarin caused a significant increase in the levels of glycolytic enzyme (hexokinase) and hepatic shunt enzyme (glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenase) whereas significant decrease in the levels of gluconeogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase) in diabetic treated rats. Furthermore, protection against body weight loss of diabetic animals also observed. This study indicates that the administration of coumarin to diabetic rats resulted in alterations in the metabolism of glucose with subsequent reduction in plasma glucose levels.