The hypoglycemic effect of Citrullus colocynth in normal rats

Infusions of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) fruits are traditionally used as antidiabetic medication in Mediterranean countries, but to our knowledge, no studies have been undertaken so far to determine the possible mechanisms involved in the antidiabetic properties of the fruit. The present study was designed to investigate whether these fruits possess hypoglycemic effects. For this purpose, prepared suspension from C.C fruit (curcubitacea) was investigated in normal 12 h fasting rats. Blood glucose was determined before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after single oral administration of prepared drug in the doses of 10, 30, 90 mg/kg. Single oral administration of prepared drug in the dose of 30 mg/kg, decreased level of BG by 18%, 24% at 4, 6 h, as compared with the control animals. Such effects of drug were not pronounced in the doses of 10 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg at 0, 4, 6, and 12 h. In conclusion, our results show that Citrullus colocynth fruit suspension have a hypoglycemic effect in the dose of 30 mg/kg, which could at least partially account for the antidiabetic activities of these fruits.