Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects of diethyl ether fraction isolated from the aqueous extract of the leaves of Cogniauxia podoleana Baillon in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Cogniauxia podoleana Baillon (Cucurbitaceae family) leaves are used in Congolese traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Based on an increasing number of reports on blood glucose level reduction associated with some saponins and flavonoids isolated from medicinal plants, the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects of flavonoid and saponin fractions were investigated. Saponin fractions were obtained by the fractionation of aqueous extract of leaves using benzene and ethyl acetate.