A comparative study of the hypoglycemic action of the seeds and fresh leaves of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi).

The study was conducted in thirty-two healthy, normal adult albino rabbits (1.5-2.0 kg) equally divided into four groups. Each rabbit was fed 100 g of Hindustan Gold Mohr (HGM) rabbit feed daily for a month which was fully consumed. The rabbits had free access to food and water. Fasting blood samples were drawn at the end of fourth week to obtain control values of blood sugar (6). Thereafter, 100 s 'experimental feed' (99 or 98 g HGM feed alongwith I or 2 g dry seed powder or fresh leaves 0.4 g or 0.8 g dry wt) was given to each rabbit every day for one month. Thus, two groups received fresh leaves and two received dried seed pow der of Ocimum sanctum at two dose levels. The animals consumed the whole diet in the course of 24 hrs. Blood specimens were drawn at intervals of one week for four weeks from the central ear vein, after' subjecting the animals to twelve hr fast and analysed for fasting sugar (FBS). Statistical evaluation was done by applying Mahlanabi's 'd' test.