Screening of the seed of Picralima nitida for hypoglycaemic activity.

The seed extract of picralima nitida was screened for hypoglycaemic activity. The hypoglycaemic activity was evaluated in both normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats, using glibenclamide as a reference drug. In both normoglycaemic and alloxan diabetic groups, 250 mg kg(-1) of the extract, 5 mg kg(-1) glibenclamide and a mixture of the extract (125 mg kg(-1)) and glibenclamide (2.5 mg kg(-1)) were administered orally, respectively. Blood glucose was measured with a glucometer at 0, 1, 2 and 4 h. In the sub acute group, the same doses as above were administered to diabetic rats once daily for 14 days and blood glucose was determined on days 1, 5, 10 and 15. The seed extract did not show any hypoglycaemic effect in both normoglycaemic and alloxan diabetic rats. Rather, the extract increased blood glucose concentration in the sub acute group on days 5, 10 and 15. These results indicate that, unlike the fruit pulp, the seed extract of Picralima nitida did not possess hypoglycaemic activity.