Abstract

The fresh as well as dried rhizome of ginger, Zingiber officinale Roscoe is widely used in the traditional system of medicine. We have studied the effect of fresh juice of Z.officinale (4 ml/kg) and methanolic extract (0.5 g/kg ) administered orally daily for 6 w on streptozotocin induced noninsulin dependent diabetic rats (90 mg/kg, i.p. single dose). Diabetes produced a significant increase in fasting glucose levels that was associated with increase in insulin levels. Treatment with Z.officinale produced a significant decrease in fasting glucose and increase in insulin levels levels in non-insulin dependent type diabetes mellitus rats. In oral glucose tolerance test treatment with Z. officinale was found to significantly (P<0.05) decrease Area Under the Curveglucose and increase Area Under the CurveInsulin values in diabetic rats. Treatment with Z.officinale also produced decrease in serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride levels and decrease in blood pressure in diabetc rats. Our data suggest a potential antidiabetic activity of the Z.officinale in non-insulin depaendent diabetes mellitus model of diabetic rats.