Clinical trial in patients with diabetes mellitus of an insulin-like compound obtained from plant source.

Clinical study of an insulin-like compound obtained from vegetable source (vegetable insulin) was carried out on nine patients with diabetes mellitus. The active hypoglycaemic principle, purified protein extract, was obtained from fruits as well as from tissue cultures of the plant Momordica charantia L. This extract was homologous to insulin obtained from animal pancreas. It showed a consistent hypoglycaemic effect in patients with diabetes mellitus. The average fall in blood sugar level at the peak effect of vegetable insulin was found to be statistically significant. The onset of action was within 30-60 min with the peak effect six hours after the administration of the dose of plant insulin. No hypersensitivity reaction to this extract was observed in the group of patients studied.