The hitherto unknown glucose regulating role of three vegetable peels from 
cucurbitaceae family was evaluated. In a preliminary study, effects of ethanolic 
extracts of Cucurbita pepo, Cucumis sativus and Praecitrullus fistulosus peels 
were studied at 250 and 500 mg kg(-1) d(-1) for 15 days in the alterations in 
serum glucose and in hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) in male mice. In the pilot 
experiment, the effective and safe concentration of each peel was administered 
(p.o.) for 10 consecutive days and then on 11th and 12th days alloxan was 
administered along with peel extracts. The treatment was continued up to 15th 
day. At the end, alterations in serum glucose, insulin, triiodothyronine, 
thyroxine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low 
density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, hepatic lipid peroxidation, 
superoxide dismutase and catalase were studied. All the three peel extracts 
nearly reversed most of these changes induced by alloxan suggesting their 
possible role in ameliorating diabetes mellitus and related changes in serum 
lipids. However, Cucurbita pepo peel was found to be the most effective. Total 
polyphenols, flavonoids and ascorbic acid contents of the test peels were also 
estimated, which appear to be associated with the observed antidiabetic and 
antioxidative potentials.