Planta Med 2013; 79 - PB46
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1351991

Effects of Momordica dioica aqueous extract in alloxanised diabetic rats and secretion from isolated pancreatic islets

R Singh 1, P Sharma 2
  • 1Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India
  • 2Department of Zoology, Institute of Basic Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India.

Antidiabetic activity of extracts of Momordica dioica fruit was evaluated in alloxanised diabetic rats to verify its folkloric use in management of diabetes. Also, the in vivo and in vitro insulinotropic effects of the most active extract were also determined. Its aqueous extract (AEMD) elicited maximum (52.8%) blood glucose reduction at 1 hour in glucose tolerance test (GTT), which was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than 39.0, 37.2 and 37.7% given by hexane, chloroform and ethanol extracts, respectively. The most active AMED (200 mg/kg bw) produced a significant (p < 0.01) fall of 57.5% in alloxanised diabetic rats while its 200 mg/kg bw AMED once daily administration for 21 days reduced the elevated blood glucose, post prandial glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin by 64.8, 76.9 and 37.6%, respectively. It also gave a 31.3% increase in serum insulin levels, suggesting that its antidiabetic effect may be due to its pancreatic and serum insulinotropic actions. Effects of AEMD, alone or in combination with 1 mg of nicorandil, on isolated islets of normal Wistar rats incubated in HBBS buffer at 3.3 and 16.7mM glucose were assayed. AEMD (1 and 2 mg) dose dependent stimulated insulin secretion and the induced enhancement was not diminished by nicorandil, suggesting that the insulin induction was independent of K-ATP channels of β cells.

Keywords: Momordica dioica, antidiabetic, Wistar rat, pancreatic islets, insulin, nicorandil