A study of hypoglycemic effects of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in human blood cells

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted with an objective to validate the effect of the plant Azadirachta indica (neem) in human blood cells in a normoglycemic medium. This hypoglycemic effect had been attributed by the communities to this plant. In this study, aqueous extract of the plant was used in a concentration of 6.4% m/v and from this, following doses were prepared: 0.01 mg; 0.05 mg (low doses); 0.1 mg; 0.175 mg (medium doses); 0.7 mg and 1.4 mg (high doses); also it was used insulin Humulin R® in different concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 nM) in order to compare both effects in a normoglycemic medium with human blood cells. The results demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect when the levels of glucose concentration went down in the normoglycemic medium in relation to the control. There was a significant effect (p<0.001) for the high doses group. These findings validate the hypoglycemic effect of this plant attributed by the communities.