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Abstract
This study was undertaken to investigate the antidiabetic activity of fruit extract and solvent fractions Momordica charantia in rats. The in-vitro α-amylase inhibition assay was performed using the chromogenic 3, 5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) method while the antihyperglycemic activity was assessed using three mouse models: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, normoglycaemic rats, and oral glucose challenged rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 150 mg/kg and animals with fasting blood glucose level (BGL) >200 mg/dL were considered diabetic. Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug. Fasting BGL and body weight were used to assess the antidiabetic activity. The crude extract of Momordica charantia at all tested dose levels (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg) showed a significant BGL reduction in all the three animal models. Moreover, the ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions (at 500 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.01) reduced the BGL in the streptozotocin induced diabetic model. The crude extract and different solvent fractions also showed a dose- dependent in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity and improvement of body weight. Momordica charantia extract and its solvent fractions showed a significant antihyperglycemic activity in STZ induced diabetic rats, hypoglycemic activity and improvement of oral glucose tolerance in normal rats.