Anti-hyperglycemic effect of Momordica charantia green fruit extract

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes was a destruction of beta cells ultimately leading to a lack of insulin production. In rural African communities, approximately 80% of the population continue used herbal medicine to control or treat diabetes. The main objective of this work was to experimentally verify the action of the green fruit of Momordica charantia on induced diabetes and its safety. For this purpose, the composition of the fruit was determined by phytochemical screening and aqueous extraction by the maceration method. The efficacy of the extracts was tested in Wistar rats rendered diabetic by the injection of five doses of streptozotocin at 40 mg/kg body weight. Then the rats were treated with the fruit extract for 28 consecutive days at 10mg/L. The dosage of biochemical parameters such as glycaemia, triglycerides, cholesterols, serum creatinine and hemogram were carried out on blood samples. The histological study was made after fixation of the pancreas with formalin and staining of the sections with Hematoxylin-Eosin. The toxicity of the extract was evaluated by larval toxicity test and acute and subchronic oral toxicity tests. Phytochemical analysis of Momordica charantia green fruit powder revealed alkaloids, triterpenes, steroids, mucilages, flavonoids, reducing compounds and saponosides. The toxicity tests of the extract showed an absence of cytotoxic activities at the renal, hepatic and hematological levels. For the efficacy test, the extract lowered hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, increased HDL cholesterolemia and corrected hypercreatinineemia and hyperleukocytosis due to diabetes. In histology, the extract corrected the cell damage of pancreatic Langerhans islets observed in diabetes. These effects would be due to the secondary metabolites present in the fruit. In conclusion, the green fruit extract of Momordica charantia has shown anti-diabetic activities, was non-toxic and restored damaged Langerhans islets of pancreas.