Abstract
Hypoglycemic Activity of Cresentia cujete L. (Calabash) Fruit Pulp in Diabetic Male White Mice
Lorelie Gloria A. Samaniego, Ofel Jireh T. Montenegro,
Benjo A. Logramonte, Joliesa Mae S. Toledo, Zeus S. Elumba
Cresentia cujete L. has been postulated to lower blood sugar level yet current
research is insufficient to prove this claim. Hence, this study was conducted to
investigate the hypoglycemic activity of C. cujete L. fruit pulp decoction and
fresh pulp extract in experimental diabetic male white mice. The behavior of
the mice was also observed. Twelve male diabetic white mice were divided
into four groups (T0
-
= distilled water, T0
+
= metformin, T1= Cresentia cujete L.
fruit pulp decoction, T2= Cresentia cujete L. fruit pulp fresh extract) and
subjected to treatment by gavage for 28 days. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) level
was determined before diabetes induction, two days after diabetes induction
(the onset of diabetes or Day 0), on Day 15 and Day 29. Data analysis
employed Analysis of Variance in Complete Randomized Design and Tukey’s
HSD (honest significant difference) Test. At Day 0, all mice had high FBS
(>140 mg/dl). At Day 15, although ANOVA showed a highly significant
difference, the effect of T1 and T2 was similar. At Day 29, the FBS level in the
four groups varied significantly. Symptoms of diabetes (polydipsia,
polyphagia, body weakness) were observed at the start of the study. During the
study, the mice had reduced food intake and became more active. Results
suggest that fresh fruit pulp extract is more efficient in lowering blood glucose
than the decoction.
KEYWORDS: decoction, diabetes, extract, polydipsia, polyphagia
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