Pharmacologyonline 3: 789-795 (2009) Joshi et al. 789 HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA LEAF AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN EUGLYCEMIC AND HYPERGLYCEMIC WISTAR RATS Joshi RK 1* , Patil PA 2 , Mujawar MHK 1 , Kumar D 1 , Kholkute SD 1 1 Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Belgaum, Karnataka-590 010, India 2 Department of Pharmacology, J. N. Medical College, KLE University, Belgaum, Karnataka-590 010, India * Corresponding author: Joshi R. K., Scientist, Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Belgaum, Karnataka-590 010, India Phone: +91-0831-2475478, Fax: +91-0831-2475479, e-mail: joshirk_natprod@yahoo.com Summary The hypoglycemic activity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Bambusa arundinacea (Family: Poaceae) was evaluated. The extract was administered orally 500 mg/kg to normal and streptozotocin-induced (60 mg/kg body weight, i.v) diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic effect of the extract was statistically significant with an oral dose of 500 mg/kg in euglycemic rats at 30 minutes and 1000 mg /kg in hyperglycemic rats at 3 hours, and was comparable to that of standard antidiabetic agent, glibenclamide 0.9 mg/kg. Key words: Bambusa arundinacea, Glucose tolerance test, Hypoglycemic activity, Streptozotocin Introduction Diabetes mellitus is considered as one of the five leading causes of death worldwide. India leads the way with its largest number of diabetic subjects and also with a great potential to provide natural resources to develop herbal remedies. It has been estimated that the incidence of diabetes in India is expected to increase, to target 57.2 million people by the year 2025 1 . Throughout the world many traditional plants have been found to possess antidiabetic activity. The world health organization (WHO) has recommended scientific evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of the traditional herbal remedies used for diabetes 2 . Bamboo is one of the precious plant resources of the earth. It has played a significant role in human civilization since ancient times. Bambusa arundinacea Willd. (Family: Poaceae) is distributed throughout India at an elevation of 2,100 m. The leaves, roots, grain and gum of this plant are used in traditional medicine. An ointment from the root is said to be a folk remedy for cirrhosis and hard tumors, especially tumors of the abdomen, liver, spleen and stomach 3 .