Hypoglycaemic effects of chloroformic, ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seeds (fenugreek) on diabetic rats

Trigonella foenum-gracum L. (Fenugreek) (Leguminosae) is employed as an herbal medicine. Its seeds are known for their carminative, tonic and antidiabetic effects. In the present study, we investigated the hypoglycaemic activities of the hydroalcoholic, ethanolic and chloroformic extracts of the Trigonella foenum-gracum seeds in streptozotocin-diabetic rats using interperitoneall (i.p.) administration. Animals were made diabetic by using streptozotocin (70 mg/kg, i.p.). The groups of normal and diabetic rats were administered by water and oil as a control groups and chloroformic, hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts of fenugreek. Blood samples were obtained from retro-orbital sinus before administration and 1.5, 3 and 5 hours after administrations. The serum glucose was measured by the enzymatic method of glucose oxidize. The chloroformic extract of fenugreek produced hypoglycaemic effect 1.5 h, while hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts exhibited hypoglycaemic affect 3 h after administration. The hydroalcoholic and chloroformic extracts are under further investigation to determine the chemical structures of active components. The presence of hypoglycaemic activity in hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts indicates the active compounds are polar in nature. Also, presence of hypoglycaemic activity in chloroformic extract may indicate that the other active compounds are none-polar in nature that act faster than compounds of hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts.