Hypoglycaemic activity of <i>Geranium core‐core, Oxalis rosea</i> and <i>Plantago major</i> extract in rats

Abstract

Abstract The hypoglycaemic activity of ‘Core‐core’ ( Geranium core‐core , Geraniaceae), ‘Culle’ ( Oxalis rosea , Oxalidaceae) and ‘Llantén’ ( Plantago major , Plantaginaceae) crude extracts was assessed in normoglycaemic rats. Furthermore, the hypoglycaemic activity of Core‐core extract was evaluated in alloxan‐diabetic rats. A single oral dose of 500 mg/kg Core‐core extract significantly reduced glycaemia in normal rats under glucose tolerance test conditions ( p &lt; 0.01), while Culle and Llantén were devoid of activity. The effect was lower than a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg tolbutamide. After 7 days oral treatment at 250 mg extract/kg body weight, Core‐core significantly reduced glycaemia ( p &lt;0.01) in normal rats under oral glucose tolerance conditions. In alloxan‐diabetic rats, a single oral dose of 500 mg/kg and chronic treatment at 250 mg/kg Core‐core extract significantly reduced glycaemia in glucose tolerance test conditions at p &lt; 0.05 and p &lt; 0.01, respectively. During the acute oral toxicity study, animals treated with Core‐core extract exhibited no symptoms of drug‐induced toxicity with doses up to 5 g/kg.