Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cucumis trigonus Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) fruit is used in the Indian traditional
medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Based on a number of reports on the blood glucose
level reduction and the other complications of diabetes associated with some Cucurbitaceae plants, the
antidiabetic effect of Cucumis trigonus fruit was investigated.
Aim of the study: To investigate the antidiabetic action of the aqueous extract of Cucumis trigonus fruits
in the different models of rats.
Materials and methods: The antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract of Cucumis trigonus fruit was evaluated
by using normal and streptozotocin-induced-diabetic rats. The acute effect of aqueous extract was evaluated
by administering 500 mg/kg p.o. to normoglycemic rats. In the chronic model, the aqueous extract
was administered to normal and STZ-induced-diabetic rats at dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. per day for 21 days.
Blood glucose levels and body weights were monitored at specific intervals and different biochemical
parameters were also carried out.
Results: The statistical data indicated the significant increase in the body weight, liver glycogen and
serum insulin level and decrease in the blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, total cholesterol
and serum triglycerides. HDL cholesterol level was significantly increased when treated with the extract.
Conclusion: The aqueous fruit extract of Cucumis trigonus has had beneficial effects in reducing the elevated
blood glucose level and lipid profile of STZ-induced-diabetic rats.