Glucose-lowering effects of Momordica charantia in healthy rats
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Date
2011-11Author
Matheka, Duncan M
Kiama, T. N.
Alkizim, F. O.
Bukachi, F.
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Pharmacotherapeutic interventions for diabetes are
expensive, hence the common use of alternative medicine.
Momordica charantia (MC) is a hypoglycaemic
agent used by diabetic as well as healthy people. The
glycaemic effects of this plant are however not known
in the latter, and we have therefore investigated the
effects of MC on blood glucose level in healthy rats.
Fourteen (14), 6-month-old, healthy Sprague–Dawley
rats were assigned to two equal groups of control
and experimental. MC juice extract was administered
(10 mL/kg) to the experimental group for 28 consecutive
days. To the control group, 10 mL/kg normal
saline was administered.
Fasting blood glucose (FBG) level was assessed once
a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Thereafter, a 2 g/kg
intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was
performed on rats in both groups. FBG level was lower
in the experimental compared with the control group
at day 28 (2.9±0.1 vs 3.2±0.1 mmol/L, p=0.04). Following
IPGTT, there was an 84% increase in glucose level
at 30 min to 7.90 ± 0.95 mmol/L which decreased by
30% at 60 min and 10% at 90 min in the experimental
group. Similarly, the control group had a 142% increase
in glucose level at 30 min to 10.3±0.8 mmol/L which
decreased by 30% at 60 min and 16% at 90 min. In
the IPGTT the BG levels were significantly lower in
the experimental group compared with the controls
through the 180-min period of observation (3.2±0.4
vs 3.8±0.1 p <0.01).
We conclude that MC prevents fluctuations of blood
glucose level in healthy rats. Thus, it has potential
therapeutic use in the prevention and treatment of
type 2 diabetes.
Publisher
African Journal of Diabetes Medicine Department of Medical Physiology
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10377]