Hypoglycaemic effect of Momordica charantia extracts in normoglycaemic or cyproheptadine-induced hyperglycaemic mice.

The hypoglycaemic effect of orally administered extracts of Momordica charantia L. fruits was examined in normoglycaemic or cyproheptadine-induced hyperglycaemic mice. The aqueous extract reduced the fasting glucose levels of hyperglycaemic or normoglycaemic mice. However, the ethanol extract did not affect the fasting or nonfasting glucose levels significantly in both groups of mice. There was no significant difference between the glucose-loaded and glucose-loaded plus aqueous extract given group. On the other hand, oral glucose-loading of the cyproheptadine-induced hyperglycaemic animals reduced the fasting glucose levels significantly. These results showed that aqueous extract of M. charantia fruits has a hypoglycaemic activity without improving the tolerance to glucose in cyproheptadine-induced diabetic mice.