Comparative Study of the Anti-diabetic Potentials of Bitter Guord Tea and Ampalaya Extract

A comparative study on the anti-diabetic potentials of bitter guord tea and mature leaves and fruit extract of cultivated ampalaya (Momordica charantia L..) administered to 12 albino mice was conducted. Results of the pretreatment, the inclusion opf water in normal diet of the animals for 7 days to determine the initial blood sugar level was within the normal range (95-100 mg / d * L) with a mean value of 167mg / d * L The blood sugar level of the animals had increased to 102-121 mg / d * L with a mean 114.208 mg/dL after the administration of sugar solution for 7 days. Oral administration of bitter guord tea and ampalaya leaves and fruit extract resulted to a slight decrease in the level of blood sugar but most animals were still diabetic with mean values of 108.667 and 106.583 mg/dL, respectively. Statistical analysis using T-test revealed highly significant difference at 1 percent level comparing the increase of blood sugar level after the administration of sugar solution with the initial blood sugar level after inclusion of water in the diet. Oral administration of bitter guord tea resulted to a slight decrease in the level of blood sugar. As depicted using T-test, the decrease was highly significant at 1 percent level. Oral administration of ampalaya also showed significant difference in the decrease of blood sugar level. Bitter guord tea and ampalaya extract showed potentials in lowering the blood sugar level of the test animals. Statistical analysis revealed significant difference with regards to anti-diabetic potential of bitter guord tea and ampalaya extract. Oral administration of ampalaya extract can induce hypoglycemia similar to bitter guord tea. Histochemical analysis depicted the presence of active principles such as alkaloids and saponins on the lamina, petiole and midrib of the mature leaf. However, saponins were only detected in the exocarp and mesocarp but absent in the endocarp of the fruit. Alkaloids were also found in the exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp of the fruit.