Karela--anti diabetic agent.

In an attempt to screen the hypogly-caemic activity of Momordica charantia fruit (Karela) the proximate analysis, alkaloidal tests and its effects on blood glucose levels of normal male albino rabbits were determined. Whole dried and powdered Momordica charantia fruit was used for this purpose and blood glucose was determined by O-toluidine method at various time intervals. The proximate analysis and alkaloidal detection studies revealed that the Momordica charantia fruit is rich in proteins and nitrogenous substances and also contains some alkaloid. In normal rabbits, the 0.25g/kg dose did not decrease blood glucose. However, 0.5 g/kg dose caused decrease in blood glucose. The effect was maximum at 10 hours interval after which it decreased gradually. The 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg doses lowered the blood glucose of these rabbits. The maximum decrease was produced by these doses at 10 hours interval. From the results, it could be concluded that Momordica charantia fruit possessed significant and consistant hypoglycaemic effect in normal rabbits. The results obtained are discussed in the light of the available literature. It is conceivable that probably Momordica charantia contains some alkaloid which exerts hypoglycaemic action. It is however also possible that synergistic compounds are present in the whole fruit, as used in indigenous medicinal preparations, which are capable of producing hypoglycaemia. Further studies are suggested to isolate the active principle(s) and in order to prove the mechanism of hypoglycaemic effect, experiments should be carried out in diabetic animals (JPMA 30:181, 1980).