THE EFFECT OF SYZYGIUM-CUMINI (L) SKEELS ON POSTPRANDIAL BLOOD-GLUCOSE LEVELS IN NONDIABETIC RATS AND RATS WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES-MELLITUS

This study was undertaken to investigate whether a tea prepared from S yzygium cumini, reported to be used by diabetics in Porto Alegre, Braz il, might have an antihyperglycemic effect in experimental models. Tea s prepared from leaves and seeds of S. cumini, in concentrations rangi ng from 2-64 g/l, were administered, as water substitute for 14-95 day s, to 16 groups with 8-9 normal albino rats and to four groups with 10 -12 rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Post-prandial blood glucose levels were determined by the glucose oxidase method on blood samples obtained by decapitation. None of the tea concentration had any detectable antihyperglycemic effect either in normal or in dia betic rats, suggesting that this plant, prepared in a manner similar t o that employed by humans, is destitute of an antihyperglycemic effect . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.