Pharmacological screening of some indigenous plants for anti-diabetic activity

ABSTRACT

This study deals with the effects of alcoholic extracts of seven indigenous plants on blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan-diabetic rabbits. The blood glucose levels were estimated before and 2,4,6 and 8 hours after the administration of a single 500 mg / kg oral dose. The extracts of six plants had no significant [P> 0.1] hypoglycaemic effect in normal as well as alloxan-diabetic rabbits. The extract of one plant i.e. Momordica Charantia, however, exerted a significant [P < 0.05] hypoglycaemic effect in both normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits. From this study this may be concluded that Momordica charantia can be effective in the control of diabetes mellitus