The hypoglycaemic activity of a 20% dried leaf infusion of Bauhinia candica
ns Benth. (Leguminosae), Galega officinalis L. (Leguminosae), Morus alba L.
(Moraceae) and Rubus ulmifolius Schott, (Rosaceae), used for diabetes in C
hilean popular medicine, was evaluated in alloxan and streptozotocin induce
d hyperglycaemic rats.
In normal rats the different infusions did not modify significantly the gly
caemia in the period studied, but in diabetic rats different results were o
bserved, depending on the diabetogenic drug used. B. candicans and R. ulmif
olius infusions elicited remarkable hypoglycaemic effects in both experimen
tal models. B. candicans presented a greater decrease of glycaemia in allox
an diabetic rats (39%) and R. ulmifolius showed a similar activity in both
alloxan and streptozotocin diabetic rats (28% and 29%).
Activity-guided fractionation of R. ulmifolius showed that petroleum ether
extracts elicited a marked hypoglycaemic effect (35%) in the streptozotocin
induced model. Copyright (C) 1999 John Whey & Sons, Ltd.