Hypoglycemic Activity of Methanolic Extract of Talinum Triagulare Leaves in Normal and Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats.

ABSTRACT

Talinum Triangulare (Family Portulacaceae) is an herbaceous perennial plant widely grown in tropical regions as a leaf vegetable with a blood-glucose-lowering effect, but its mechanism of action are still unknown. Here we report a hypoglycemic activity of Methanolic Extract of Talinum Triangulare Leaf (METTL) in healthy, glucose loaded and Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Animals either healthy or STZ-induced diabetic show significantly lowered blood glucose levels after 2 weeks of METTL treatment (250 mg/kg), it significantly reduced blood glucose levels compared with that in diabetic control rats. Additionally, the increase in blood glucose levels after administration of glucose (1.2 g/kg) in normal rats is significantly decreased and the oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) of STZ-induced diabetic rats is largely improved by METTL treatment. However, co-administration of METTL with glipizide, an oral hypoglycemic drug, it produces synergistic effect. We conclude that METTL has a significant anti hyperglycemic effect. Continuous glucose monitoring is needed in diabetic patients.