ABSTRACT
The tribal people use juice of the fleshy bark of Musa sapientum [banana] in diabetes mellitus, but no systematic and scientific investigations were conducted on this juice for antidiabetic activity. In the present study, fresh juice of Musa sapientum bark was collected and subjected for evaluation of antidiabetic activity in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The rats of groups II to V were divided and administered alloxan monohydrate at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. After forthnight, the rats of groups III, IV and V orally received 25, 50 and 100 ml/kg body weight juice of Musa sapientum bark daily, respectively. The duration of experiment was 45 days. At the end of experimental period, blood was subjected for blood glucose level determination and lipid profile. The results show significant decrease in level of glucose, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids in the rats treated with juice of Musa sapientum bark at a dose of 100 ml/kg as compared to untreated rats. Hence, the fresh juice of Musa sapientum bark has exhibited antidiabetic and hypolipidemic activity in this study