Hypoglycemic Effects of Clitoria ternatea Linn. (Fabaceae) in Alloxan-induced Diabetes in Rats

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of the aqueous extract of Clitoria ternatea Linn. Fabaceae leaves and flowers on alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. Methods: The effect of orally administered aqueous extracts (400 mg/kg body weight) of Clitoria ternatea leaves and flowers on serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin were examined in control and extract-treated diabetic rats. The glycogen content of the liver and skeletal muscles of the rats was evaluated while the activities of the glycolytic enzyme, glucokinase, and the gluconeogenic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphatase in the liver were assessed. The extracts were administered over a period of 84 days. Results: The aqueous extracts of Clitoria ternatea leaves and flowers significantly (P<0.05) reduced serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and the activities of gluconeogenic enzyme, glucose-6- phosphatase, but increased serum insulin, liver and skeletal muscle glycogen and the activity of the glycolytic enzyme, glucokinase. For all the biochemical tests performed, the leaf extract-treated rat showed essentially the same profile as those treated with the flower extract. Conclusion: The present investigation suggests that Clitoria ternatea leaf and flower extracts exhibit antihyperglycaemic effect in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus.