The juice of fresh leaves of <it>Catharanthus roseus </it>Linn. reduces blood glucose in normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The leaf juice or water decoction of <it>Catharanthus roseus </it>L. (Apocyanaceae) is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes all over the world. In the present investigation, the leaf juice of <it>C....
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BMC,
2003-09-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The leaf juice or water decoction of <it>Catharanthus roseus </it>L. (Apocyanaceae) is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes all over the world. In the present investigation, the leaf juice of <it>C. roseus </it>has been evaluated for its hypoglycemic activity in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The blood glucose lowering activity of the leaf juice was studied in normal and alloxan-induced (100 mg/kg, i.v.) diabetic rabbits, after oral administration at doses of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 ml/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected from the marginal ear vein before and also at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 20 & 24 h after drug administration and blood glucose was analyzed by Nelson-Somogyi's method using a visible spectrophotometer. The data was compared statistically by using Student's <it>t</it>-test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The leaf juice of <it>C. roseus </it>produced dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose of both normal and diabetic rabbits and comparable with that of the standard drug, glibenclamide. The results indicate a prolonged action in reduction of blood glucose by <it>C. roseus </it>and the mode of action of the active compound(s) of <it>C. roseus </it>is probably mediated through enhance secretion of insulin from the β-cells of Langerhans or through extrapancreatic mechanism.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study clearly indicated a significant antidiabetic activity with the leaf juice of <it>Catharanthus roseus </it>and supports the traditional usage of the fresh leaves by Ayurvedic physicians for the control of diabetes.</p> |
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| Item Description: | 10.1186/1472-6882-3-4 1472-6882 |