Antidiabetic Potential of Root Extract of Momordica cymbalaria, Fenzl in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

The effect of a aqueous extract of the roots of Momordica cymbalaria Fenzl., (Cucurbitaceae) was evaluated with streptozotocin(65 mg/kg, i.p.) induced diabetic rats. Seventy-two hours after streptozotocin injection, the extract, at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, was administered orally for 30 consecutive days. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and In-vitro peripheral glucose uptake studies were also measured during this course of experiment. The extract was found to be potent antidiabetic as evidenced by significant (p < 0.001) reduction of serum glucose level of diabetic rats on 30^th day by both the doses (maximal effect of 45.95% reduction of serum glucose level, at 500 mg/kg, p < 0.001). Results demonstrated a significant reduction of serum lipids (maximal effect of 50.23 and 31.89% reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride, respectively, at 500 mg/kg, p <0.001) and elevation of liver glycogen level (maximal effect at 300 mg/kg, p < 0.05) in diabetic rats, comparable to that of standard antidiabetic glibenclamide at 500 μg/kg, p.o. In OGTT, the extract at different doses showed significant reduction in serum glucose level (p < 0.05) from 30 min. onwards. The extract also revealed increase in In-vitro model for peripheral glucose uptake (not statistically significant). Improvement of body weight profile was also observed in extract-treated diabetic rats.