Original Articles
Oral hypoglycaemic activity of a commercially available herbal preparation
Authors:
M. C. P. Canagaratna ,
University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, LK
About M. C. P.
Associate Professor, Department ofBiocliemislry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine
A. V. M. Sivagowry
University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, LK
About A. V. M.
Research Student, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish the oral hypoglycaemic activity of a commercially available herbal powder (mixture of equal parts of Salacia reticulata Wight, Strychnos potatorum, L.F. Cardiospermum microcarpum, H. B. K. and Santalum album, L) used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
This was shown by demonstrating the ability of the herbal mixture given orally, at a dosage of 2mg/100g body weight, to lower the fasting blood glucose levels and to improve glucose tolerance in healthy male Sprague - Dawley rats.
The results indicate that the extract significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose levels in the treatment group 1 h., 2 h., and 3h. after oral administration of the extract, when compared with those of the control group which received distilled water (p<0.05, <0.01, <0.01 respectively). Maximum hypoglycaemic activity (12.2% reduction of fasting blood glucose) was observed 2 hours after administration of the extract. When the glucose tolerance test was performed, the control group of animals given distilled water, followed one hour later by an oral dose of 50% w / v glucose solution, showed the maximum increase (51.1%) in blood glucose concentration, after one hour. In contrast, the animals treated with the extract showed a significant improvement in their ability to utilise an external glucose load (maximum increase was only 28.8%) (p<0.001). The area under the curve of percentage increase in blood glucose, was also significantly less in the treatment group than in the control group (p<0.001).
How to Cite:
Canagaratna, M.C.P. and Sivagowry, A.V.M., 1998. Oral hypoglycaemic activity of a commercially available herbal preparation. Ceylon Journal of Medical Science, 41(1), pp.25–30. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cjms.v41i1.4894
Published on
28 Jun 1998.
Peer Reviewed
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