Antidiabetic activity of Gladiolus psittascinus in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The methanol extract of Gladiolus psittascinus bulb was evaluated for its antidiabetic activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels of the glucose loaded and alloxan-induced diabetic rats were estimated over 180 minutes using the O-toluidine and glucose-oxidase methods. The methanol extract at 1 g/kg dose exhibited 16.2% decrease in blood glucose level in the glucose loaded rats and a peak effect of 78.9% in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The extract exhibited significant blood glucose lowering effects in the oral glucose tolerance test and type 2 diabetic rats. This study shows a possible beneficial effect of Gladiolus psittascinus in the management of non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM).