On the mechanism of the hypoglycaemic effect of a plant extract

✍ Scribed by F. M. Al-Awadi; M. A. Khattar; K. A. Gumaa

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 235 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0012-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00280886

✦ Synopsis

The efficacy of a hypoglycaemic plant extract, in common use by Kuwaiti diabetic individuals, was evaluated using both streptozotocin-induced diabetic and normal rats. A significant decrease in blood glucose concentration was demonstrated on glucose tolerance tests, as compared to untreated animals. The sum of the fasting, 1 and 2 h blood glucose values, decreased from 18.5 +/- 0.72 to 13.6 +/- 0.62 mmol/l (p less than 0.001) and from 58.6 +/- 2.83 to 44.5 +/- 3.12 mmol/l (p less than 0.005) in normal and diabetic animals treated for 1 week, respectively. Treatment with the extract was not found to significantly alter insulin levels or intestinal glucose absorption. The mode of action of the hypoglycaemic preparation remains to be elucidated.