Last modified: 2019-07-18
Abstract
Background: Mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens A.DC.) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) fruit extract have antidiabetic and antioxidant activities because of total flavonoids from its contains. Objective: This study aimed to prove the efficacy of the combination of both these plants by examining in vivo antidiabetic and antioxidant activity model in rat experimentally. Materials and Methods: Rat were divided into eight groups (normal, negative control, glibenclamide as a positive control, and five dose extract group). The dose mountain papaya extract (MPE) and bitter melon extract (BME) were given at 174 mg/kg b.w of MPE, 380 mg/kg b.w of BME, combination of MPE:BME (87:190; 44:285 and 130:95) mg/kg b.w. Induction of diabetes used alloxan dose of 150 mg/kg b.w intraperitoneally. The treatment was performed for 21 days with a frequency of once a day. Blood sugar level was measured at pretest, 7th, 14th, and 21st days. At the end of the test, measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and pancreatic morphology were measured. Data were analyzed by ANOVA statistic. Results: The Combination of MPE-BME at dose of 87:190; 44:285 and 130:95 mg/kg b.w /day orally, showed an decrease in blood glucose levels (58.04; 57.02 and 45.94%) than single extract MPE (45.50%) BME (54.72%) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) compared with the negative control. The same results from measurements of levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and pancreatic morphology. Conclusion: Based on these results, a combination of the CFE-BFE had antidiabetic and antioxidant activity, but the activity was not significantly different from the single extract (p> 0.05).