Hypoglycemic effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract on normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats

The hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of the seeds of Mucuna pruriens was investigated in normal, glucose load conditions and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In normal rats, the aqueous extract of the seeds of Mucuna pririens (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the blood glucose levels after an oral glucose load from 127.5 ± 3.2 to 75.6 ± 4.8 mg% 2 h after oral administration of seed extract. It also significantly lowered the blood glucose in STZ diabetic rats from 240.5 ± 7.2 to 90.6 ± 5.6 mg% after 21 days of daily oral administration of the extract (P < 0.001). Thus, this study shows that M. pruriens has an anti-hyperglycemic action and it could be a source of hypoglycemic compounds.