HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF OPUNTIA-FICUS-INDICA MILL, OPUNTIA-LINDHEIMERI ENGELM AND OPUNTIA-ROBUSTA WENDL IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

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.