Determination of antidiabetic activity in Allium cepa (onion) tissue cultures.

Seedling, seedling parts and callus cultures of onion were tested for their antidiabetic activity by feeding the tissue-extracts to diabetic rats. The results indicated much higher antidiabetic activity in callus cultures as compared to natural bulbs of onion. These results may be of pharmaceutical significance since the callus can be used as an alternative source for the isolation of antidiabetic compounds.