On the mechanism of the hypoglycaemic effect of a plant extract.

The efficacy of a hypoglycaemic plant extract, in common use by Kuwaiti diabetic individuals, was evaluated using both streptozotocin-induced diabetic and normal rats. A significant decrease in blood glucose concentration was demonstrated on glucose tolerance tests, as compared to untreated animals. The sum of the fasting, 1 and 2 h blood glucose values, decreased from 18.5 +/- 0.72 to 13.6 +/- 0.62 mmol/l (p less than 0.001) and from 58.6 +/- 2.83 to 44.5 +/- 3.12 mmol/l (p less than 0.005) in normal and diabetic animals treated for 1 week, respectively. Treatment with the extract was not found to significantly alter insulin levels or intestinal glucose absorption. The mode of action of the hypoglycaemic preparation remains to be elucidated.