Hypoglycaemic and hypolipaemic effects of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) in normal and diabetic guinea pigs.

ABSTRACT

Information available in literature is contradictory regarding the glycaemic and cholesterolaemic activities of various legume proteins. Present work deals with the study of the effect of 'Guar' feeding on serum total lipids, free and esterified cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. Normal and alloxan induced diabetic guinea pigs were kept on the whole seed diet of 'Guar' for four weeks. Blood sugar and total lipid levels were found to be decreased significantly in normal and as well as diabetic animals; free and esterified cholesterol levels were also observed to be lowered significantly in normals, whereas esterified fraction alone was found to be lowered in diabetics. Significant fall in the levels of other lipids i.e., triglycerides, phospholipids and total lipids was also noticed.