Hypoglycaemic effect of Spergularia purpurea in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Single and repeated oral administration of the water extracts of Spergulari a purpurea (SP) at a dose of 10 mg/kg were tested on hypoglycaemic activity in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In normal rats, the wa ter extract of SP decreased significantly the plasma glucose levels 4 h aft er single oral administration (P < 0.01), and one week after repented oral administration (P < 0.05). A significant decrease of plasma glucose levels was observed 6 h after a single oral administration of the water extract of S. purpurea in severe hyperglycaemic rats (n = 6) from 22.78 +/- 0.60 to 1 1.21 +/- 0.49 mmol/l (P < 0.001). On other hand, water extract of S. purpur ea normalised plasma glucose levels after two weeks of repealed oral admini stration in diabetic rats, 24.05 +/- 1.16 versus 7.18 +/- 0.51 mmol/l (P < 0.001) at the start and 2 weeks after water extract administration, respect ively. We conclude that the water extract of SP induces hypoglycaemic activ ity when administered orally in normal and STZ diabetic rats. In order to d etermine the active principle (s) responsible of the hypoglycaemic effect, preliminary phytochemical analysis of the water extract has been investigat ed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.