EVALUATION OF PHARMACOGNOSTICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY FRUITS OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA LINN

Objective: Momordica charantia Linn. belonging to family cucurbitaceae, used in various ailments in Indian traditional system of medicine. Its fruit extract is used for the treatment of diabetes. Objective of present study was evaluation of pharmacognostical, physicochemical, phytochemical and antidiabetic activity of fruit extract of Momordica charantia. Method: The plant material was purchased from local market of District Hapur, U.P. (India). The plant drug was standardized as per W.H.O. guidelines. Albino Wister male rats of weighing between 150 to 200 gms were used for the study. Diabetes was induced by injecting alloxan (120 mg/kg, i.p.). Group I served as normal control, Group II served as diabetic control, Group III served as standard control and treated by Tolbutamide 100 mg/kg p.o. Group IV served as diabetic rats treated with hydro-alcoholic extract of fruit extract of Momordica charantia (MCE) at a dose of 300 mg/kg All the treatments were given for 21 days. Results: Diabetic rats treated with fruit extract of Momordica charantia (MCE) at a dose of 300 mg/kg significantly (P<0.01) reduced fasting blood glucose and normalize the lipid profile, renal profile and hepatic profile. This reduced 44.24% blood glucose after 21 days treatment and normalizes various serum parameters. Histopathological changes of pancreas and liver of diabetic rats were improved by the treatment of MCE extract that confirmed its protective role in alloxan induced diabetes. Conclusion: Our research project was preparation of polyherbal formulation by mixing four different crude drug extracts in an optimized ratio and MCE is one of the ingredients of this proposed formulation. For this purpose the plant material and extract were standardized and evaluated for antidiabetic activity. On the basis of results it can be concluded that 70% v/v hydroalcoholic extract of MCE possess antidiabetic activity and beneficial in improving complications associated with diabetes.Key Words: Antidiabetic activity, Momordica charantia Linn., Fruit extract, Alloxan-induced diabete