Treatment with extracts of Momordica charantia and Eugenia jambolana prevents hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in fructose fed rats

Insulin resistance has been implicated as a major contributor to the develo pment of hyperglycemia in NIIDM patients. Herbal extracts of Momordica char antia (MC) and Eugenia jambolana (EJ) have been shown to reduce hyperglycem ia in diabetic animal models and human patients. However, no work has been done so far to assess their effect on insulin resistance. This study was un dertaken to study the effects of different doses (100, 200 and 400 mg per d ay) of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of MC and EJ on the metabolic paramet ers (body weight and serum glucose, insulin and triglycerides levels) of fr uctose fed rats. Fructose feeding for 15 days increased serum glucose and i nsulin levels markedly and triglycerides levels marginally vs. control (75. 46 +/- 2.41 vs. 55.59 +/- 2.89 mg/dl, 6.26 +/- 1.27 vs. 15.04 +/- 2.43 mg/d l and 50.93 +/- 3.30 vs. 41.1 +/- 3.33 mg/dl, respectively). Treatment with 400 mg per day of aqueous extracts of MC and EJ for 15 days substantially prevented hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia induced by a diet high in fruc tose (63.52 +/- 2.9 and 66.46 +/- 2.2 vs. 75.46 +/- 2.4, respectively). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.