Glucose-lowering effects of Momordica charantia in healthy rats

Abstract

Pharmacotherapeutic interventions for diabetes are expensive, hence the common use of alternative medicine. Momordica charantia (MC) is a hypoglycaemic agent used by diabetic as well as healthy people. The glycaemic effects of this plant are however not known in the latter, and we have therefore investigated the effects of MC on blood glucose level in healthy rats. Fourteen (14), 6-month-old, healthy Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to two equal groups of control and experimental. MC juice extract was administered (10 mL/kg) to the experimental group for 28 consecutive days. To the control group, 10 mL/kg normal saline was administered. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) level was assessed once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Thereafter, a 2 g/kg intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed on rats in both groups. FBG level was lower in the experimental compared with the control group at day 28 (2.9±0.1 vs 3.2±0.1 mmol/L, p=0.04). Following IPGTT, there was an 84% increase in glucose level at 30 min to 7.90 ± 0.95 mmol/L which decreased by 30% at 60 min and 10% at 90 min in the experimental group. Similarly, the control group had a 142% increase in glucose level at 30 min to 10.3±0.8 mmol/L which decreased by 30% at 60 min and 16% at 90 min. In the IPGTT the BG levels were significantly lower in the experimental group compared with the controls through the 180-min period of observation (3.2±0.4 vs 3.8±0.1 p <0.01). We conclude that MC prevents fluctuations of blood glucose level in healthy rats. Thus, it has potential therapeutic use in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.