Evaluation of hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activity of bark of Butea monosperma

Plants and plants extracts have been used for many years as folklore medicine. Therefore the objective of present study was to screen different extracts of Butea monosperma for antidiabetic activity and to rationalize the folk claim. In light of the traditional claim of Butea monosperma in the treatment of diabetes, investigations were carried out to evaluate the effects of extract from the bark of Butea monosperma on normal and alloxan induced diabetic mice. Glucose tolerance test was also performed. The studies indicate that the crude aqueous extract exhibited statistically significant hypoglycaemic (P < 0.01) and anti-hyperglycemic (P < 0.001) activities in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats respectively.