The acidified water-chloroform extract of unriped fruits of Momordica charantia Linn. was tested for hypoglycemic activity at several dosage levels in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. The blood glucose was measured at 2 h interval for 10 h period by O-toluidine method. In diabetic rabbits, a significant decrease in blood glucose level occurred at 10 and 20 mg/kg after intravenous injection whereas no hypoglycemic action was found in normal rabbits even at the high dosage of 20 mg/kg. This pattern of the acidified water-chloroform extract action contrasted with that of tolbutamide which produced the hypoglycemic action only in normal rabbits.
