Aswagandha is a medicinal herb widely used by the people to treat various disorders like diabetes, mental disease, asthma, inflammation, arthritis and tuberculosis. The plant Withania coagulans commonly called as aswagandha belongs to the family Solanaceae and is a rare, endangered and endemic plant species of India. The curative properties of the plant have ascribed to the presence of complex chemical substances such as alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, essential oils etc. which are secondary metabolites synthesized from intermediate metabolism. Hence a study was conducted with the objective of assessing the “Effect of medicinal plants on type II diabetes ’’.The effect of medicinal plants was studied by formulation and evaluation of nutraceutical mix. The study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacology, home science college and research institute, Madurai. The utraceutical formula was developed and organoleptically evaluated by a panel of diabetics using nine point hedonic rating scale. Based on the organoleptic evaluation it was observed that the patient hesitate to take the nutraceutical formula in the form of powder because of mixed strong flavour and bitter taste. Hence, the nutraceutical formula was given in the form of capsule. Both the extracts of AF&SAFJA were mixed in the proportion of 40:200 and then dried under sunlight with lid. Dried extract was powdered and filled in the empty gelatin capsule at 2.5 mg dosage level. The extracts proved the considerable glucose reduction and hence the capsule named as glucodip. The glucodip capsules were packed in plastic bottles, pet jars and 400 gauge polyethylene bag which were stored at ambient condition to study their storage behaviour (changes in moisture and microbial load). The capsules were drawn from each packaging material and analyzed for their quality for a period of 180 days at 30 days interval. Glucodip capsule showed a gradual and marked decrease in blood sugar & urinary sugar level during the study period. This reduction was a significant decrease. Production cost of glucodip capsule was Rs. 5.00 per capsule.
