Antihyperglycemic effect and phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of Passiflora foetida (Linn.) on normal Wistar rat model

Abstract

Passiflora foetida L. belonging to family Passifloraceae is used in Sri Lanka as a traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to examine the antihyperglycemic activity of the aqueous leaf extract of P. foetida in normoglycemic Wistar rats. The extract at a dose of 433 mg/kg (calculated on the basis of the traditional raw salad intake per meal) had a effect not significantly different (p<0.05) for glipizide at a dose of 10 mg/kg, 90 min after the glucose load. Preliminary phytochemical sceening indicated the presence of flavonoids, steroids and saponins as major constituents.