In a study in rats, the effect of the crude drug on insulin resistance, a
major contributor to the development of hyperglycaemia, was assessed
in vivo. The effects of different doses (100.0, 200.0 and 400.0 mg per day)
of alcohol extracts or aqueous extracts of the fruits (1 kg of fruit to 500 ml
ethanol) on the metabolic parameters (body weight and serum glucose
insulin and triglyceride levels) of rats fed fructose were studied. Feeding
fructose for 15 days increased serum glucose and insulin levels markedly
and triglyceride levels marginally when compared with the controls
(75.46 versus 55.59 mg/dl, 6.26 versus 15.04 mg/dl and 50.93 versus
41.1 mg/dl, respectively). Treatment with 400.0 mg/day of aqueous
extract (1 kg in 500 ml water) for 15 days substantially reduced hyperglycaemia
and hyperinsulinaemia induced by a diet high in fructose