A study was conducted to determine the oral hypoglycemic activity of a decoction of Munronia pinnata which is used as a constituent of many Ayurvedic formulations. In Sri Lanka it is used as a substitute for Swertia chirata, which is not available in Sri Lanka and is prohibited to be imported from India. Two types of decoctions were prepared according to conventional (D1) and the textual reference (D2) methods with M. pinnata whole plants [1]. Healthy adult Wistar male rats, 8 weeks of age and weighing 150.0–225.0g were divided randomly into Test 1, Test 2 and Control groups (n=6/group) [2]. Test 1 group was given 2.5ml of D1 as a single dose orally via a Sondi needle. Test 2 group was given 2.5ml of D2 while the Control group was given distilled water (2.5ml each). This was followed by the administration of a glucose load (3g/kg) and blood was drawn after 90 minutes. The serum glucose concentration was measured by the glucose-oxidase method. Both types of decoctions exerted significant oral hypoglycemic effects. The mean serum glucose concentration in the Test group 1 (D1) was 4.5 mmol/L and 5.8 mmol/L in the Test group 2 (D2) whereas it was 6.4 mmol/L in the Control group. There was a 24.8% (P<0.0003) reduction with D1 and 8.2% (P<0.01) reduction with D2 compared to Control group. The decoction prepared by the conventional method exerted the maximum hypoglycemic effect. Acknowledgment: University Grant Commission, Sri Lanka for Research Grants (UGC/ICD/045–2008).
References: [1] Chopra RN (1976), Indian Medical Plants, Vol I, Bombay Popular Prakashana Pvt,Bombay. [2] Research guidelines for evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines, (1993), World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific Manila.
