The effect of two sequential doses of Opuntia streptacantha upon glycemia.

To find out if a second dose of O. streptacantha may enhance its hypoglycemic effect, three tests were performed in fasting condition to 8 type II diabetic subjects and 6 healthy individuals. The tests were as follows: A. 500 g of broiled stems of O. streptacantha were given orally initially and two hours later. B. Only the initial dose. C. Control test with water. Serum glucose and C peptide were measured every two hours from 0 to 6 hours. In diabetic patients a significant (P < 0.01 vs control) decrease of serum glucose reaching from 41 to 46% less than initial value, was noticed in tests A and B, without differences between them. C peptide did not change. In healthy subjects serum glucose and C peptide did not significantly differ between tests. A second dose of O. streptacantha, two hours after the first one, did not improve its hypoglycemic activity.