<i>In Vivo</i> Evaluation of Anti-diabetic Activity of Methanolic Extract of <i>Trillium govanianum</i> Rhizome in Wistar Albino Rats

Background: Diabetes prevalence and related mortality continue to rise globally, as reported by the World Health Organisation, underscoring the need for safer therapies. Trillium govanianum, a native plant of the Himalayas, was found to exhibit in vitro enzyme inhibitory activity relevant to glycemic control; therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the anti-diabetic effect of its methanolic rhizome extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the in vivo anti-diabetic activity of the methanolic extract of T. govanianum rhizome. Methods: 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n=6). Diabetes was induced using STZ (45 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 0. Group 1 served as diabetic control; Group 2 received Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg); Groups 3 and 4 received T. govanianum extract at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Treatments were administered orally for 14 days from day 3 (72 hours post-STZ injection) to the day 17. FBS and body weight were recorded at baseline and at subsequent intervals. At baseline and on day 17, Complete Blood Count (CBC), liver, and renal function tests were performed. On day 17, vital organs were evaluated histologically. Results: Both doses of T. govanianum extract significantly reduced FBS levels, comparable to Glibenclamide. Body weight reduction was similar across all groups. Histopathological findings indicated protective effects in the liver and pancreas. Conclusion: The extract demonstrated effective glycemic control and organ protection in diabetic rats, warranting further pharmacological and clinical evaluation. Major Findings: The methanolic extract of T. govanianum reduced the blood sugar levels in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats with a favourable safety profile. Further, the extract demonstrated protective effects in the liver and pancreas of the diabetic rats as observed in the histopathological analysis.