An alcoholic extract of Picrorrhiza kurroa was found to lower blood glucose
in basal conditions and after a heavy glucose load in normal rats. Maximum
reduction in serum glucose was observed after 2 h at a dose level of 75 mg
extract/kg of body weight. P. kurroa extract was also found to reduce the
increase of blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (43% at 75 mg/kg b
ody weight and 60% at 150 mg/kg body weight). Chronic administration of the
extract significantly reduced the blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetic
rats for several days (10 days). The extract was also found to reduce the i
ncreased blood urea nitrogen and serum lipid peroxides in alloxan-induced d
iabetic animals and to inhibit the body weight reduction and leukopenia ind
uced by alloxan administration. These results indicate that P. kurroa extra
cts are able to ameliorate biochemical damages induced by alloxan in diabet
ic rats. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.