Muhammad Munir Ahmad Khan, Iffat Ara, Imran Ahmed Qureshi, Malik Shah Zaman Latif, Muhammad Shoaib Akhtar, Tahira Majida Malik, Maqbool Hasan.
Hypoglycaemic Effect of Alpinia Galanga Rhizome in Normal and Alloxan-Treated Diabetic Rabbits.
J Rawal Med Coll Jan ;4(1-2):3-10.

The effect of powdered Alpinia galanga rhizome and its aqueous and methanolic extract on blood glucose levels was studied in normal and alloxan-treated diabetic rabbits. The oral administration of powdered rhizome caused a time dependent hypoglycaemic effect in normal rabbits at doses of 3g/Kg and 4g/Kg. The drug did not cause any significant change in the blood glucose levels of alloxan-treated diabetic rabbits. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of the drug also significantly lowered the blood glucose levels of normal rabbits and had no significant effect in reducing the blood glucose levels of alloxan-treated diabetic rabbits. The standard drug gliclazide was found very effective in lowering blood glucose levels in normal rabbits but had no effect in alloxan-treated rabbits. A seven day acute toxicity study in rabbits did not reveal any apparent adverse or side effects of the herbal medicine at doses as high as 8g/kg orally. The rhizome was found to contain some essential elements like, sodium, potassium, magensium, zinc manganese, copper, calcium and it is possible that the hypoglycaemic activity may partially be due to necessary elements provided by the rhizome to the (3-cells. The rhizome material may be relatively safe for human use, as it was found devoid of any mutagenic/carcinogenic potential.

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