Antihyperglycaemic effect of Mangifera indica in rat

The leaves of Mangifera indica are used as an antidiabetic agent in Nigeria n folk medicine. To determine whether or not there is a scientific basis fo r this use, the effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves on blood glucos e level was assessed in normoglycaemic, glucose - induced hyperglycaemic an d streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The aqueous extract given ora lly (1 g/kg) did not alter the blood glucose levels in either normoglycaemi c or STZ-induced diabetic rats, In glucose - induced hyperglycaemia, howeve r, antidiabetic activity was seen when the extract and glucose were adminis tered simultaneously and also when the extract was given to the rats 60 min before the glucose. The hypoglycaemic effect of the aqueous extract was co mpared with that of an oral dose of chlorpropamide (200 mg/kg) under the sa me conditions. The results of this study indicate that the aqueous extract of the leaves of;Mangifera indica possess hypoglycaemic activity, This acti on may be due to an intestinal reduction of the absorption of glucose. Howe ver, other different mechanisms of action cannot be excluded. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.