| Abstract: | The hypoglycaemic activity of an aqueous ethanolic extract of Swertia japonica and its ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water soluble fractions, together with ether soluble and insoluble fractions of ethyl acetate soluble fraction was observed in streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycaemic rats. It was found that an aqueous ethanolic extract was more effective than a mixture of tolbutamide and buformine, and an ethanolic extract of another species of this plant, S. chirayita in lowering the blood glucose level under similar experimental conditions. Furthermore, an ethyl acetate soluble fraction of S. japonica and its ether insoluble fraction showed a potent hypoglycaemic activity. |
