Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Preparation of Naringenin Solution for In Vivo Application
08:18

Preparation of Naringenin Solution for In Vivo Application

Published on: August 10, 2021

Hypoglycemic effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract on normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Anusha Bhaskar1, V G Vidhya, M Ramya

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, Bishop Heber College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620 017, India. anushaparthiban@gmail.com

Fitoterapia
|August 2, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The aqueous extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds significantly lowers blood glucose in normal and diabetic rats. This suggests Mucuna pruriens possesses anti-hyperglycemic properties and may yield novel hypoglycemic compounds.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Phytomedicine
  • Diabetology

Background:

  • Diabetes mellitus is a significant global health concern.
  • Management of hyperglycemia remains a critical therapeutic challenge.
  • Natural products are increasingly explored for antidiabetic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract.
  • To evaluate its efficacy in both normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat models.

Main Methods:

  • Aqueous extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds was prepared.
  • Normal rats received oral glucose load with or without extract.
  • Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated daily with the extract for 21 days.

Main Results:

  • The extract significantly reduced blood glucose levels in normal rats post-glucose load.
  • A significant reduction in blood glucose was observed in STZ-diabetic rats after 21 days of treatment.
  • The extract demonstrated a potent anti-hyperglycemic action in both models.

Conclusions:

  • Mucuna pruriens seeds possess significant hypoglycemic activity.
  • The plant extract shows potential as a source for developing new hypoglycemic agents.
  • Further research into the active compounds of Mucuna pruriens is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors01:19

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

α-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), and voglibose (Voglib) (primarily available in Asia), are drugs that control blood sugar levels by delaying the digestion of starch and disaccharides. They achieve this by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzymes in the intestine, which slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, which in turn leads to a prolonged release of the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells.
Acarbose and miglitol are typically...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides01:06

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides

Repaglinide (Prandin) and Nateglinide (Starlix), known as glinides, are oral insulin secretagogues that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β cells by closing the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channel). Repaglinide controls insulin release from pancreatic β cells by managing potassium efflux. It shares two binding sites with sulfonylureas and also has a unique site, indicating overlapping mechanisms of action. With a rapid onset and a 4-7 hour duration, it effectively manages...
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a significant...
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists01:24

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists

Incretins include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which stimulate insulin secretion post-meals. In type 2 diabetes, GIP's efficacy is reduced, making GLP-1 a viable drug target. GIP originates from preproGIP.
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by the...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose01:16

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are high. It facilitates glucose absorption and utilization in insulin-dependent cells with insulin receptors on their plasma membranes. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by increasing the number of glucose transport proteins in the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell. As a result, glucose utilization and ATP production are enhanced.
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...