Ma. Enigbokan et al., HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF OPUNTIA-FICUS-INDICA MILL, OPUNTIA-LINDHEIMERI ENGELM AND OPUNTIA-ROBUSTA WENDL IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS, PTR. Phytotherapy research, 10(5), 1996, pp. 379-382
The hypoglycaemic activities of Opuntia ficus-indica, O. lindheimeri a
nd O. robusta were investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat
s using enteral (oral) and parenteral (intraperitoneal and intravenous
) routes of administration, When the aqueous extracts of the three Opu
ntia species were administred intraveneously, they produced a hypoglyc
aemic effect. However, when the extracts were administered orally, onl
y O. lindheimeri produced a hypoglycaemic effect, A dilute aqueous (am
monium sulphate) solution of O. lindheimeri dialysate also produced a
hypoglycaemic effect when administered intravenously, Intraperitoneal
administations of all Opuntia species extracts including O. lindheimer
i dialysate failed to produce hypoglycaemic effects, It appears that t
he concentration and/or potency of the active hypoglycaemic principle
in Opuntia cacti is species-specific.