Jornal de tecnologia microbiana e bioquímica

Abstrato

Hypoglycaemic Activity of Bitter Gourd Fruits Extracts in Normal and Alloxan–Induced Diabetic Rats

Othman Ali Othman

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of bitter gourd fruits (Momordica charantia) extracts on blood glucose concentration and liver enzymes in normal and alloxan–induced diabetic rats.

Oral administration of an aqueous extract of bitter gourd fruits (BGF) to alloxan diabetic rats caused a significant reduction of blood glucose and serum transaminases (aminotransferases). However, bitter gourd fruits extract didn’t affect the blood glucose in normal rats.

Maximum reduction in serum glucose was observed after 4 h at a dose level of 50 mg extract/kg of body weight and considers the optimum dose. Chronic administration of the extract significantly reduced the blood glucose in alloxan-induced diabetic rats for fifteen days. The bitter gourd fruits extract also lowers the aspartate transaminase (sAST) and alanine transaminase (sALT) in diabetic rats.

Thus results suggest that the bitter gourd fruits not only reduce blood glucose level but may be able to ameliorate biochemical damages reduced by alloxan in diabetic rats.