Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects of different doses of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) powder in male diabetic rats. A total of 35 rats were randomized into 5 groups of 7 each as follows: Group 1: Normal control; Group 2: Diabetic control; Group 3: Diabetics administered with low doses of pumpkin powder (1 g/kg); Group 4: Diabetics administered with high doses of pumpkin powder (2 g/kg), and Group 5: Diabetics administered with glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg), as positive control. The rats were made diabetic by alloxan (120 mg/kg body weight (BW)) injection and were treated for 4 weeks on a daily basis. Blood samples were collected following the experiment. Pancreatic specimens were also collected for histological analysis. Glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly increased, while insulin was decreased in diabetic rats as compared to the normal control group (p < 0.05). Low dose pumpkin significantly decreased glucose, triglycerides, LDL and CRP as compared to diabetic group and high dose pumpkin decreased cholesterol (p < 0.05). Histological analysis also revealed a significant increase in the diameter and number of langerhans islets in treated group with pumpkin, which was consistent with the latter findings. Therefore, pumpkin might be beneficial in diabetic patients.

Key words: Cucurbita pepo, diabetes, pumpkin, alloxan monohydrate, rat, hypoglycaemic, hypoglycaemic.