AUTHOR

Sittie Jebrailyn S. Amilhasan, Muhammad Razul Abdullah, Rechie Mae C. Abear, Sittie Soriena D. Kundo, Chris Dy, John Edward C. Padisio, Michael Jan Pimentel, Haris Rashi, Rus Cyan Josef E. Rodelas, Rodessa, Charcey Tabunda, Ruth Kristine Tan, Genevieve D. Tupas, MD, Melinda C. Tagle, MD, Eva. C. San Juan, PhD, and Herminigilda B. Nartatez, MD

KEYWORDS:

Crescentia cujete, diabetes, hypoglycemic agent, toxicity dose, alternative medicine

ABSTRACT

Diabetes ranks fourth in the leading causes of mortality worldwide and eight leading cause of death in the Philippines. Treatment options for diabetes are being expanded beyond the practice of conventional medicine, with the increasing popularity and use of herbal medicines. This study was conducted to investigate folkloric claim on the potential of calabash (Cresentia cujete) decoction in reducing blood glucose level. The study aimed to determine the acute toxicity dose, approximate effective dose (AED) and effective dose (ED₅₀) of calabash fruit decoction and test this in a bioassay using Metformin and Normal Saline Solution (NSS) as positive and negative controls, respectively. To test for acute toxicity, 2,000mg/kg and 5,000mg/kg doses of the calabsh decoction were tested in mice To determine the AEd and ED₅₀, alloxan was used to induce hyperglycemia in rabbits. The results showed that all mice surviced the 2,000 and 5,000mg/kg doses of the calabash decoction leading to the fruit decoction’s classification as Category 5 on the Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals rendering it as non-toxic. AED was noted to range from 3.98 to 15.84 mg/kg. ED₅₀ Probit analysis of the fruit decoction was determined at 9.88 or 10 mg/kg. Experimental bioassay showed the mean blood glucose levels at 283.00, 261.87 and 241.47 mg/dl for NSS, Metformin, and calabash decoction, respectively. Evaluation using Post Hoc Pair-wise test demonstrated that calabash and Metformin had cmparable hypoglycemic effect. In conclusion, this study showed that the calabash fruit decoction is non-toxic and is effetive in lowering the blood glucose levels of alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rabbits at a dose of 10 mg.kg. Its hypoglycemic effect is similar to Metformin.