Abstract

Xeromphis uliginosa Retz. is an indigenous plant of Bangladesh. Traditionally this plant is used to treat many diseases. In order to explore the medicinal quality of this plant systematically, the crude methanol extract of roots was screened for antidiabetic activity in rats model. The antidiabetic action was determined by using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and alloxan induced antidiabetic test. In OGTT, both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) of methanol extract reduced the blood glucose significantly (p < 0.05) after 1 h on administration and continued to remain lower up to 3 h. However, the extract significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the blood glucose level in diabetic rats at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight which was comparable to the standard drug used (glibenclamide).

Key words: Xeromphis uliginosa, antidiabetic, blood glucose.