Effect of <i>momordica charantia</i> extracts on blood glucose and lipid peroxidation levels in albino rats.

Abstract

Hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties of Mormordica Charantia plant (Ejirin in Yoruba language) were investigated using albino rats.
Bioassays were carried out using crude alkaloid and fractionated extracts of the plant material. Thirty-six albino rats weighing between 230-250g
were divided into six groups and respectively administrated orally, aqueous, Ethyl acetate, chloroform and crude alkaloid extracts of the plant
leaf as well as the whole plant leaf at the concentration of 150mg/kg body weight. Results show that the whole plant leaf extract as well as the
aqueous fraction significantly (p<0.01) reduced blood glucose levels in rats, significant reduction (p<0.05) were also observed in the chloroform
and ethyl acetate groups. Percentage (%) reduction in blood glucose level were 50 (aqueous whole leaf extract, 40.5 (ethyl acetate extract), 34.6
(crude alkaloid extract) and 30 (chloroform extract ) respectively.
Result for anti-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (anti-TBARS) efficiency (%) was 87.0 for the Alkaloid extract of Momordica Charantia
leaf. These results indicate that the aqueous fraction and whole plant leaf extract of Momordica Charantia possess potent hypoglycemic index
and anti-TBARS property and suggest that the whole leaves and extract can serves as anti-oxidant.