Comparative antidiabetic activities of some medicinal plants.
Villaseņor I. M., Cabrera M. A., Meneses K. B., Rivera V. R. R., Villaseņor R. M.
Author Affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
Philippine Journal of Science 127 : 261-266
Abstract : Methanolic and aqueous extracts from popular, abundant and relatively cheap sources such as banana flowers, pipino fruits [Solanum muricatum?], and leaves of ampalaya [Momordica charantia], kangkong [Ipomoea aquatica], kamote [sweet potatoes?], makopa [cassava] and tanglad [Cymbopogon citratus] were tested for their comparative antidiabetic activities using albino mice as test animals. Blood glucose levels were determined using haemoglucotest strips. The results of the bioassay of aqueous extracts showed that the most potent antidiabetic tested was banana flowers while the comparative antidiabetic potencies of the other plants are: tanglad leaves > pipino fruits > kangkong leaves > makopa leaves > ampalaya leaves > kamote leaves. An infusion from mango leaves did not exhibit antidiabetic activity. The organic extract of makopa leaves was the most antidiabetic followed by kangkong and mango leaves. The organic extracts of banana flowers and kamote, ampalaya and tanglad leaves exhibited low antidiabetic potentials. The organic extracts were tested at a dose of 10 mg/20 g mouse.