Lack of Antidiabetic Influence of Cumin (Cuminurn cyminum) Seeds and Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) Juice in Rats

Cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum), a commonly consumed spice was examined for a possible anti-diabetic influence in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. When consumed as a single oral dose (lg/kg body weight), cumin did not exert any beneficial hypoglycaemic effect. Additionally, bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) which is widely claimed to be antidiabetic was also examined for its hypoglycaemic potency. Consumption of fresh juice of bitter gourd as a single oral dose (equivalent to 6.5 g fresh fruit/kg body weight), did not exert any beneficial hypoglycaemic influence in experimental rats.