Antidiabetic effect of crude glycoside of abrus precatorius in alloxan diabetic rabbits

Abstract

The antidiabetic effect of crude a glycoside from Abrus precatorius seed was studied in alloxan diabetic rabbits. Three groups of male alloxan diabetic rabbits were used. The three groups (n = 3) received oral injection of 50mg/kg body of crude glycoside (CG), chlorpropamide (CP)-a known synthetic antidiabetic drug and 5mls of normal saline for CG, CP and CO respectively. Blood glucose levels were reduced in CG and CP groups of diabetic rabbits but not in CO. The percentage reduction of blood glucose for CG after 5,10,20,30,40,60, and 168 hours of oral injection were 34.1, 43.4,71.8,73.2,70.6,63.7 and 62.9% respectively while for CP we have 13.8,32.3,61.3,33.5,46.3 and 46.2% respectively. The peak reduction for CG was 73.2% after 30 hours and 61.3% for CP after 20 hrs of oral injection. Both CG and CP did not return back to hyperglycaemic level of 207.60 ± 0.21- 247.20 ± 0.50.
There is a high significant difference between the blood glucose reduction pattern of CG and CP with that of CO at P < 0.001. There is no significant difference in the blood glucose reduction patterns of CG and CP (P < 0.001).

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Legumes, Abrus precatorius, Sulfonylurea, Crude glycoside.


(Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 9(1): 35-38)