Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of fruit methanolic extract of Luffa cylindrica fruits. The effect of methanolic fruit extract on oral glucose tolerance and its effect on normoglycemic rats were studied. The same was tested for antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan induced hyperglycemic rats at the two dose levels 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight p.o. The serum biochemical parameters were also assessed in the alloxin induced experimental animals. The methanolic extract of Luffa cylindrica exhibited remarkable antihyperglycemic activity. The treatment of diabetic rats with methanolic extract of the test plant improved the serum biochemical parameters and the activities were found to be dose dependent. The present study concludes that Luffa cylindrica fruit extract demonstrated promising antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats.