Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 2(3), September 2011, pp. 350-353 Hypoglycaemic activity of Coccinia indica Wight & Arn. fruits in Alloxan-induced diabetic rats M Ramakrishnan 1,2 , R Bhuvaneshwari 3 , V Duraipandiyan 1 and R Dhandapani 4 * 1 Department of Biotechnology, Thanthai Hans Roever College, Perambalur-621 212, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Division of Plant of Biotechnology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai-600 034, Tamil Nadu 3 Department of Botany, AVC College, Manapandal, Mayladurai-609 305, Tamil Nadu 4 Department of Botany, Aringer Anna Government Arts College, Nammakal-637 002, Tamil Nadu Received 21 September 2010; Accepted 31 March 2011 Fruit extracts of Coccinia indica Wight & Arn. were evaluated for their antidiabetic activity in Alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in experimental rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body wt). Ethanol, chloroform and aqueous extracts of C. indica fruits were administered orally at a dose of 250 mg/kg body wt to diabetic rats. Blood glucose was analysed using glucose oxidase-peroxidase reactive strips. Significant antidiabetic activity was observed in ethanolic extract in terms of reduction of fasting blood glucose level in diabetic rats. After 7 h blood glucose was depressed by 8.2% (P < 0.05) and 10.06% (P < 0.01) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The effect of the ethanolic extract particularly at 250 mg/kg was comparable to that of standard drug Glibenclamide (1 mg/kg body wt). Keywords: Alloxan, Coccinia indica, Diabetes, Fruits, Glibenclamide, Hypoglycaemic. IPC code; Int. cl. (2011.01)A61K 36/42, A61K 131/00, A61P 3/10 Introduction Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous metabolism disorder characterized by altered carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. The incidence of diabetes is very high all over the world and particularly many Indians are suffering from this disease and its complication in liver, heart, kidneys and lungs. Many Indian medicinal plants have been used successfully for the treatment of diabetes. Coccinia indica Wight & Arn. (Plate 1) is found throughout India in warm and humid conditions and more commonly seen in areas like Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It is found in southern Asian islands, West Indies and Hawain islands 1 . It is slender scandent or prostrate herb often with tuberous root 2 . Fruits contain β-amyrin acetate lupeol and cucurbitacin B. Aerial parts contain heptacosane, cephalandrol, β-sitosterol and alkaloids cephalandrines A and B. Its root contains resins, alkaloids, starch, fatty acids and carbonic acid 3 . The roots, stems, leaves and fruits are used in indigenous system of medicine for treating diabetes 4 . Previous studies have reported that ethanolic extract of leaves possess hypoglycaemic and antioxidant properties. Root and leaves have antilipidemic effects 5-8 . Aqueous extract of fresh leaves had anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic 9 and anti-nociceptive activities 10 . Hepatoprotective effects of diethyl ether extract of leaves 11 and antimicrobial effects of aqueous and organic solvent extracts of fruits and leaves have also been reported 12,13 . Aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic extracts of aerial parts showed antihyperglycaemic and hypolipidemic 14,15 , antitussive 16 , antilithitic 17 and antimutagenic activities 18 . It is also used to cure ring worm, psoriasis, small pox, scabies, other itchy skin eruptions and ulcers activities 19,20 . The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hypoglycaemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats using aqueous, ethanol and chloroform extracts of C. indica fruits as no studies have been carried out on its fruits for hypoglycaemic activity. Materials and Methods Plant material Fresh fruits of C. indica were collected in the month of June 2009 from Vilamuthur village, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India. The plant was identified with the help of available Indian literature 21 . ——————— *Correspondent author: E-mail: paniroever2007@rediffmail.com Phone: 09790631438 (Mob.)