Detection of Hypoglycemic and Antidiabetic Fraction in Ethanol Extract of Jatropha curcas Aerial Parts

Diabetes is a global problem and many efforts are being done all over the world searching for new drugs that can manage it more efficiently. The World Health Organization recommended the natural products to be possible source for antidiabetic compounds. Jatropha curcas plant was employed in Indian traditional medicine for the treatment of several disorders. So, hexane, chloroform and ethanolic extracts of the aerial part were subjected for evaluation of their hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects. Oral administration of ethanolic extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg showed hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activities in alloxan induced diabetic mice. Bioassay-guided fractionation used to isolate the active fraction. Moreover, the drug was found to be safe up to dose of 5 g/kg. Further fractionation is recommended to find the active compound(s).