ROLE OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L. AS HERBAL MEDICINE TO CURE HYPERGLYCEMIA IN VIVO ON INDUCED DIABETIC MODEL ANIMALS

WAHEEDA MUSHTAQ^1*, M TARIQ², M. ISHTIAQ^1*, R. ASGHAR²,

TANVEER HUSSAIN¹ AND TANVEER BASHIR³

 

Department of Botany, Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), Bhimber Campus, Bhimber AJK, Pakistan

Department of Biotechnology, Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), Mirpur AJK, Pakistan

Department of Economics, Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), Bhimber Campus, Bhimber AJK, Pakistan

*Corresponding author’s email: drishtiaqajk@gmail.com; waheeda.jawad@gmail.com

 

Abstract

 

The present study was aimed to explore antidiabetic potential of wild fruit of Momordica charantia L. (Family: Cucurbitaceae) from local germplasm of District Bhimber Communities, Azad Kashmir. The purpose was to evaluate the herbal recipe of food folklores of the remote rural area, where majority population relies on herbal therapeutics. Ethnomedicinal knowledge was collected through Rapid Appraisal Approach (RAA) along with structured and semi-structured interviews with local people and herbalist. Pharmacological analysis was conducted in the laboratory using Rabbits as model organisms, diabetics were induced by use of alloxan. The antihyperglycemic effect of ethanol extract at 1mg/kg and 3mg/kg is studied in normal, glucose loaded hyperglycemic and alloxan induced Type2 diabetic rats by oral dose administration for 7, 15 and 30 days. The blood glucose level of normal control and treatment groups were monitored by using Star glucometer. This research explored that considerable reduction in sugar level was observed on 7^th and 15^th days samplings in both treatments (T_1-group with 1g dose has 224±12 value and T_2-group with 3g dose has 149±1.4 value) in comparison with control group which showed 542±6 glucose reading. The body weights was increased by 4.4% in normal control group, in diabetic control group decreased by 1.35%, in T_1-group decreases by 19 % and in T_2-group by decrease 37%. Serum insulin level was also improved in both treatment groups but comparatively in T_2-group, its improvement was more. The study demonstrated that ethanolic extract of Momordica charantiaL has potential antidiabetic property in Type2 diabetes mellitus, thus justifying the traditional usage of plant as food medicine.

 

Key words: Ethnomedicine; Diabetes mellitus; Momordica charantia; Ethanolic extract; Serum insulin; Bhimber; Azad Kashmir; Hyperglycemia