Effect of Cirsium pascuarense on blood glucose levels of normoglycaemic and alloxan-diabetic mice

Blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan-treated diabetic mice were deter mined after i.p. administration of various doses of the hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of Cirsium pascuarense. From the data obtained, it is concluded that the i.p. administration of 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg of hexane extract of this plant produced a significant hypoglycaemic effect in norma l as well as in diabetic mice. In addition, the extracts altered glucose to lerance in afloxan induced diabetic rats. Chloroform and methanol extracts did not produce any significant change in blood glucose levels. Copyright ( C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.