[Hypoglycemic action of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire: study using raw extracts]

To find out the extent of the hypoglycemic effect of crude extracts of Opuntia streptacantha eight patients with type II diabetes mellitus were studied. Five tests were performed to each patients with the intake of (A) supernatant, (B) precipitate, (C) complete homogenate of 500 g of crude O. streptacantha stem (D) 400 ml of water, and (E) 500 g of broiled Opuntia stems. Serum glucose levels were measured at 0,30,60,120 and 180 minutes. Crude extracts did not cause a significant decrease of glycemia, and the results were similar to the water control test (P greater than 0.05). The intake of broiled Opuntia stems caused a significant decrease of serum glucose level, that reached 48.3 +/- 16.2 mg/dl lower than basal values at 180 minutes (P less than 0.01). Perhaps heating of O. streptacantha is necessary to obtain the hypoglycemic effect.