Effects of portulaca oleracae [Kulfa] and tarasacum officinale [Dhudhal] in normoglycaemic and alloxan-treated hyperglycemic rabbits

Blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan-diabetic male albino rabbits were determined after oral administration of various doses of the whole, dried and powdered plants of the Portulaca oleracae, Linn. [Fam. Portulacaceae] and Taraxacum officinale, Wiggers [Fam. Compositae]. It was concluded that the powders of both plants produced significant hypoglycaemic effects in normal rabbits but not in alloxan treated rabbits. Acute toxicity and behavioural changes were not observed in the doses tested. It is conceivable that both the indigenous medicinal plants contain some hypoglycaemic principles which act probably by initiating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells of normal rabbits