Extra pancreatic effects of Hygrophila longifolia

Abstract

The extra-pancreatic effects of the oral hypoglycemic plant Hygrophila longifolia have been investigated in rats. Administration of an aqueous extract of the plant prior to glucose loading resulted in a significant increase in the glycogen content of liver and muscle (by 108.5 + or - 9.5 and 57.8 + or - 4.2 percent, respectively), and a significant increase in triacylglycerol content of adipose tissue (by 10.2 + or - 1.8 percent) in comparison with control rats. However, the plant extract had no effect on the gluconeogenic capacity of the kidney or intestinal glucose absorption. The results obtained in the present study suggest Hygrophila longifolia may exert hypoglycemic action by mechanisms similar to those of the sulphonylureas.