Antidiabetic effect of Picralima nitida aqueous seed extract in experimental rabbit model

Objective: The blood sugar lowering effect of P. nitida aqueous seed extract was investigated on normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. Materials and methods: The hypoglycaemic effect of P. nitida was evaluated using alloxan (80 mg/kg body weight, i.p) induced hyperglycaemic rabbits. The extracts potency was compared with standard drug, tolbutamide and distilled water. The LD 50 was determined using mice. Results: A dose of 648 mg/kg body weight of extract caused maximum lowering of blood sugar levels in both normal and alloxanized rabbits. The mean fasting blood sugar in the normoglycaemic rabbit was reduced by 19.46% within 3 h, while in alloxanized rabbits blood sugar level was reduced by 75.5% within 6 h. The LD 50 of the extract in mice was 1601.2 ± 60.5 mg/kg body weight when given i.p. Conclusion: P. nitida , though a crude drug, exhibited a faster onset of action and more persistent in hyperglycaemic situation than tolbutamide standard controls. This qualifies it to be used in ethnomedical diabetic management.