Effect of water extract of Coraili (Momordica charantia) on blood glucose levels in Sprague Dawley Rays [abstract]

ABSTRACT

Water extracts from the fruit of the coraili plant, Mormordica charantia, have been reported to have hypoglycaemic effect. The fruit of this plant is eaten as a vegetable by man. Significant lowering of blood glucose levels has been observed following the oral administration of coraili fruit extracts. However, some authors have shown that there are no beneficial hypoglycaemic effect from fruit extracts. In this experiment, water extract of the entire coraili fruit was administered orally to alloxan-diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats ad libitum for 7 hours. The rats were placed on normal diet during the experiment. Results showed that 7 hours after the administration of this extract, blood glucose levels dropped significantly. It was also observed that, 7 hours after the discontinuation of the administration of the extract in alloxan-diabetic rats, blood glucose levels rose close to the pre-administration levels. The implications of these findings will be discussed. (AU)