Pharmacognostical and phytochemical investigation of antidiabetic activity of Moringa oleifera lam leaf

Through pharmacognostical investigation, a crude drug can be identified and differentiated from closely related species. Many glycoside containing plants having antidiabetic activity have been reported in the literature. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam were screened for hypoglycaemic activity. Pre-treatment with methanolic extract (500 and 1000mg/kg body weight, oral route) did not show significant hypoglycaemic activity (p < 0.001) against alloxan induced diabetic albino rats; however ethanolic extract of fresh leaves at the dose (1000mg/kg body weight, oral route) showed significant hypoglycaemic activity.