In present study, we investigated
hypoglycemic and
antihyperglycemic potential of five extracts (water,
ethanol,
methanol,
hexane, and
chloroform) of four plants (i.e., seeds of Eugenia jambolana, fruits of Momordica charantia, leaves of Gymnema sylvestre, and seeds of Trigonella foenum graecum) alone and/or in combination with
glimepiride in rats.
Ethanol extract of E. jambolana, water extract of M. charantia,
ethanol extract of G. sylvestre, and water extract of T. graecum exhibited highest
hypoglycemic and
antihyperglycemic activity (most active) in rats among all the extracts, while
hexane extracts exhibited least activities. Most active extracts were further studied to dose-dependent (200, 100, and 50 mg/kg
body weight (bw))
hypoglycemic and
antihyperglycemic effects alone and in combination with
glimepiride (20, 10, and 5 mg/kg bw). The combination of most active extracts (200 mg/kg bw) and lower dose of
glimepiride (5 mg/kg bw) showed safer and potent
hypoglycemic as well as
antihyperglycemic activities without creating severe
hypoglycemia in normal rats, while higher doses (200 mg/kg bw of most active extracts, and 10 and 20 mg/kg bw of
glimepiride) were generated lethal
hypoglycemia in normal rats. From this study, it may be concluded that the
ethanol extract of E. jambolana seeds, water extract of M. charantia fruits,
ethanol extract of G. sylvestre leaves, and water extract of T. graecum seeds have higher
hypoglycemic and
antihyperglycemic potential and may use as
complementary medicine to treat the diabetic population by significantly reducing dose of standard drugs.