Oral hypoglycaemic effects of Momordica dioica in the rat

Abstract

Traditionally, the fruit extract of Momordica charantia L. (family: Cucurbitaceae; genus: Momordica) is widely used in Asia and Australasia to treat diabetes meliitus [1]. Another cucurbit, M. foetida, is used for the same purpose in West Africa [1]. M. charantia has been scientifically evaluated in many parts of the world, both in animals [2-4] and humans [5-7] and proven to have beneficial hypoglycaemic activity, A wild relative of M. charantia, named M. dioica (Sinhalese; Thumba karawila, Tamil- Palupalagakalungai or Thumbai), is found in the dry low country regions of Sri Lanka [7], Although there is a strong possibility that M. dioica may also possess such activity- it has not yet been scientifically evaluated. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the oral hypoglycaemia activity of the fruit extract of M . dioica in rats.