Anti-diabetic activity of Picrorrhiza kurroa extract

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.