[Hypoglycaemic activity of centaurea aspera L (author's transl)]

Two aquous crude extracts of Centaurea aspera L. flowers were tested for hypoglycaemic activity in normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. Both extracts exert a significant hypoglycaemic effect by oral route and chronic administration in diabetic rats, but only the extract obtained by exhaustion with hot water displayed an acute hypoglycaemic activity in normal animals. All plant-treated groups were compared against glibenclamide as a standard. The acute toxicity by oral and intravenous routes was determined in mice.