Hypoglycaemic effect of alcoholic extract of Morus nigra L. leaves in normal and diabetic rats

Abstract

Mulberry (Morus nigra L.) is non-toxic natural therapeutic agent shown to possess hypotensive and diuretic properties. The alcoholic extract of Morus nigra L. leaves was tested for hypoglycaemic effect in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Graded amounts (0.25, 0.5 and 1 g/kg) of alcoholic extract of Morus nigra leaves, when given to both normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats orally, caused a significant reduction of serum glucose concentration in streptozotocin-diabetic rats but not normal rats was noticed. Also the alcoholic extract of mulberry did not change the level of insulin in normal and diabetic rats. These results suggest that the alcoholic extract of Morus nigra L. leaves given orally possess a hypoglycaemic effect in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Keywords

• morus nigra
• hypoglycaemia
• streptozotocin
• rats