ANTIDIABETIC AND GLYCOGENESIS EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA (LINN.) IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The study was undertaken to investigate the antihyperglycemic, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycogenesis effects of the different fractions (Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and chloroform) of methanolic extract of Momordica charantia. The different fractions of the extract were administered intraperitoneally as a single dose of 150 mg/kg body weight to alloxan induced as well as glucose induced diabetic rats and found to reduce blood glucose level significantly (p<0.05). The different fractions of Momordica charantia to the alloxan-induced diabetic rats resulted in the significant elevation of liver glycogen content which was decreased by 50.60% in diabetic control. The plant fractions also improve the glucose tolerance in the glucose induced rats. The effects of plant fractions were compared with standard drug metformin. The phytochemical screening tests indicated that the different constituents such as saponins, tannins, triterpines, alkaloids and flavonoids etc. were present in the plant which has antidiabetic and glycogenesis properties. Thus, this investigation paves the way for plant based diabetic treatment and indicates that various fractions (Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and chloroform) of the methanolic extract of Momordica charantia have favorable effect in bringing down the severity of diabetes, enhancing glycogenesis activity by increasing the cellular uptake of glucose and  also improving glucose tolerance activity.