Hypoglycemic Property of Ethnic Vegetables Consumed by the Tribal People of Chittagong Hill Tracts

Abstract

The present study reports the hypoglycemic property of some ethnic vegetables which are consumed by the ethnic people of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. It was observed that all of ethnic vegetables, except Miminipata, reduced the diabetic blood glucose level from 9.26mmol/L to 5.04mmol/L over 28 days of treatment. Ethanol extract of Kaminopata was found to be most active. Compared to other extracts, Kaminopata reduced the blood glucose at a faster rate; made the glucose level to 4.76mmol/L (normal limit) within 14 days and sustained it for the rest of treatment period. The next effective ones were Chikipungpata and Khoropata, which reduced the glucose level to respectively 5.39 mmol/L and 5.85mmol/L within 14 days of treatment. The fresh extracts of some vegetables were found to be more effective than the corresponding ethanol extracts. The differences in lowering of blood glucose between the 7 days interval over the period of treatment were found strongly significant (p<0.05).