Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia. Medicinal plants being an important therapeutic aid, there is an exponential growth in this field of research. Calamus inermis belongs to the Family Arecaceae and is considered beneficial antidiabetic plant in folk medicine. Present study evaluated the antihyperglycemic activity of hydroethanolic extract of young shoots of Calamus inermis in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.

Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoid, saponin, tannin, phenol, alkaloid, anthocyanin and terpenoid. Quantitative test for total phenol and total flavonoid was estimated. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the blood glucose and increase in body weights in the experimental groups treated with the extract as compared to the diabetic control group. Administration of extracts at 200 mg/kg b.w. and 400 mg/kg b.w. showed dose dependent decrease in blood glucose level.