Original Articles: 2010 Vol: 2 Issue: 5
Evaluation of Antidiabetic Activity of Momordica balsamina Linn Seeds in Experimentally-induced Diabetes
Abstract
The present study was design with an aim to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of Momordica
balsamina (MB) seeds. The study was performed on methanolic and aqueous extracts of MB
seeds in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and STZ-induced diabetes models in rats. In OGTT
model, aqueous extract (AE) at 500 mg/kg dose had shown the significant (P<0.05) check in the
rise of blood glucose, at par to metformin (500 mg/kg). Hence, AE (500 mg/kg) was selected for
further study in STZ-induced diabetes model. Single dose of STZ (45 mg/kg i.p.) was used for
diabetes induction, which had shown significant rise in blood glucose level, and significant
decrease in body weight as compared to normal control rats. Three weeks treatment of diabetic
animals with AE (500 mg/kg) showed significant check in rise of blood sugar compared to
untreated diabetic rats along with improved complete lipid profile and body weight. On the basis
of analysis of data obtained during the study, it may be concluded that AE of MB seeds is having
significant antihyperglycemic potential and can be further fractionated in order to get a
responsible molecule for this vary action.