Effect of Trigonella foenum graceum on blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice.

The hypoglycemic effects of a decoction and an ethanol extract of Trigenolla foenum graceum seeds on the serum glucose levels of normal and alloxan diabetic mice were studied. A single 0.5 ml oral dose of 40-80% decoctions to normal as well as alloxanized mice was followed by hypoglycemia developed over a 6-h period. Reduction in blood glucose concentration was highly significant, was maximum at 6 h and was dose-dependent. The hypoglycemia caused by the ethanol extract (200-400 mg/kg) in alloxanized mice was also dose-dependent and 200 mg/kg was comparable in effect to 200 mg/kg tolbutamide.