Blood Sugar Lowering Effect of Anacardium occidentale Leaf Extract in Experimental Rabbit Model

Objective: The hypoglycaemic effect of A. occidentale aqueous leaf extract was evaluated on normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rabbits. Materials and methods: Antidiabetic activity of A. occidentale was evaluated using alloxan (80 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) induced hyperglycemic rabbits. The potency of extract was compared with that of tolbutamide. The acute toxicity was determined using mice. Results: A dose 400 mg/ kg body weight of the extracts caused maximum lowering of blood sugar levels in both normal and alloxanized rabbits. The fasting blood sugar in the normoglycemic rabbits was reduced from 184.6 mg% to 74.2 mg% in three hours; while in alloxanized rabbits, blood sugar was reduced from 447.6 mg% to 242.8 mg% in three hours. The LD₅₀ of the extract in mice was 4000 mg/kg body weight when given intraperitoneally. Conclusion: A. occidentale is almost equipotent to tolbutamide in its ability to reduce the blood sugar levels. The above observation is consistent with the use of A. occidentale in foklore diabetes management.