No abstract

The methanol extract of Gladiolus psittascinus bulb was evaluated for its antidiabetic activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels of the glucose loaded and alloxaninduced diabetic rats were estimated over 180 minutes using the O-toluidine and glucose-oxidase methods. The methanol extract at 1g/kg dose exhibited 16.2% decrease in blood glucose level in the glucose loaded rats and a peak effect of 78.9% in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The extract exhibited significant blood glucose lowering effects in the oral glucose tolerance test and type 2 diabetic rats. This study shows a possible beneficial effect of Gladiolus psittascinus in the management of non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM).

The antidiabetic activity of the methanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin Linn (Anacardiaceae), a medicinal plant used in the treatment of diabetes and other diseases, was evaluated in oral glucose tolerance test and alloxan induced diabetic rats using the O-toluidine and glucose-oxidase methods. A dose of the methanol extract and its chloroform fraction was administered to experimental diabetic rats and their blood glucose levels evaluated over 8 h. The extract exhibited significant blood glucose lowering effect in the oral glucose tolerance test and the alloxan induced diabetic rats when compared with the control. The chloroform fraction of Spondias mombin showed a peak hypoglycaemic effect of 60.6% at 4 h. This study, therefore, justifies the use of the plant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.