A study on fuelwood consumption in two villages of Bhaderwah forest division (J&K), India

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health concern characterized by hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. Despite the efficacy of current pharmacotherapies, they are often associated with adverse effects and limited accessibility in low-resource settings. RAXI, a traditional polyherbal formulation containing Xylopia aethiopica and Irvingia gabonensis, is used in West Africa for diabetes management but lacks scientific validation. Objective: To evaluate the antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering effects of RAXI in a rat model of T2DM. Methods: Male Wistar rats were rendered diabetic using a high-fructose diet followed by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (35 mg/kg). Diabetic rats were treated orally with RAXI at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg for 14 days. Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) served as the reference drug. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), body weight, blood pressure, biochemical markers (ALT, AST, urea, creatinine, lipid profile), and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, MDA, GSH, GST, nitrite) were measured. Histological analysis of pancreatic tissues was also conducted. Results: RAXI at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced FBG levels (p