ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cucumis trigonus Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) fruit is 
used in the Indian traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Based on 
a number of reports on the blood glucose level reduction and the other 
complications of diabetes associated with some Cucurbitaceae plants, the 
antidiabetic effect of Cucumis trigonus fruit was investigated.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the antidiabetic action of the aqueous extract 
of Cucumis trigonus fruits in the different models of rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract of Cucumis 
trigonus fruit was evaluated by using normal and streptozotocin-induced-diabetic 
rats. The acute effect of aqueous extract was evaluated by administering 500 
mg/kg p.o. to normoglycemic rats. In the chronic model, the aqueous extract was 
administered to normal and STZ-induced-diabetic rats at dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. 
per day for 21 days. Blood glucose levels and body weights were monitored at 
specific intervals and different biochemical parameters were also carried out.
RESULTS: The statistical data indicated the significant increase in the body 
weight, liver glycogen and serum insulin level and decrease in the blood 
glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, total cholesterol and serum 
triglycerides. HDL cholesterol level was significantly increased when treated 
with the extract.
CONCLUSION: The aqueous fruit extract of Cucumis trigonus has had beneficial 
effects in reducing the elevated blood glucose level and lipid profile of 
STZ-induced-diabetic rats.