Antidiabetic activity of fruit pulp of Feronia elephantum Corr.

Feronia elephantum Corr. Commonly known as Bela, Billin, Kath, is a commonly known herb in Indian system of medicine to treat various disorders including diabetes mellitus without any scientific evidences. Therefore this study was designed to investigate in vivo hypoglycemic and antidiabetic potential of methanolic extract of fruit pulp of Feronia elephantum Corr. in glucose loaded animals and alloxan induced diabetic animals. In both the models Feronia elephantum Corr. reduce the blood glucose level when compared to diabetic control group and exert a significant hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activity. However the potency of the herb was less than that of standard drug metformin. Feronia elephantum Corr. methanolic extract also reduced the rate of body weight loss in normal and alloxan induced diabetic animals. The results of this study revealed the presence of a significant antidiabetic potential of methanolic extract of Feronia elephantum Corr. in alloxan induced diabetic rats. On the basis of this further research work is needed to investigate exact mechanism of action and also to isolate the active constituent/s responsible for the activity.