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Hypoglycaemic Effects of Opuntia ficus‐indica Mill., Opuntia lindheimeri Engelm and Opuntia robusta Wendl. in Streptozotocin‐induced Diabetic Rats
Author(s) -
Enigbokan Mofolorunso A.,
Felder Tyrone B.,
Thompson Jacob O.,
Kuti Joseph O.,
Ekpenyong Kieran I.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199608)10:5<379::aid-ptr849>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - streptozotocin , intraperitoneal injection , traditional medicine , potency , aqueous extract , pharmacognosy , phytotherapy , oral administration , medicine , diabetes mellitus , chemistry , botany , biology , pharmacology , biological activity , in vitro , endocrinology , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology
The hypoglycaemic activities of Opuntia ficus‐indica, O. lindheimeri and O. robusta were investigated in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats using enteral (oral) and parenteral (intraperitoneal and intravenous) routes of administration. When the aqueous extracts of the three Opuntia species were administred intraveneously, they produced a hypoglycaemic effect. However, when the extracts were administered orally, only O. lindheimeri produced a hypoglycaemic effect. A dilute aqueous (ammonium sulphate) solution of O. lindheimeri dialysate also produced a hypoglycaemic effect when administered intravenously. Intraperitoneal administations of all Opuntia species extracts including O. lindheimeri dialysate failed to produce hypoglycaemic effects. It appears that the concentration and/or potency of the active hypoglycaemic principle in Opuntia cacti is species‐specific.