Hypoglycemic Activity of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn in Normal and Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

The purpose of this study was to study effects of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn rhizome on blood glucose level. The antihyperglycemic efficacy of ethanolic extract of the rhizome was evaluated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ diabetic rats). The extract exhibited significant hypoglycemic activity when compared with the control group and to that of the effect produced by a standard antidiabetic agent Glibenclamide. The result also indicated dose dependent effect. The hypoglycemic effect produced by the extract may be due to the uptake of glucose at the tissue level or inhibition of intestinal absorption of glucose. We conclude that ethanolic extract of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn is a potential hypoglycemic agent and lends scientific support for its use in folk medicine.