Hypoglycemic Activity of Cresentia cujete L. (Calabash) Fruit Pulp in Diabetic Male White Mice

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.