Hypoglycemic Activity of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in Participants with Impaired Fasting Glucose

Abstract

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is characterized by a blood glucose level higher than normalbut lower than that of diabetes level. Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) is an alternativehypoglycemic and antidiabetic plant due to its phytochemical constituents that regulateintestinal glucose absorption and prevents insulin resistance. This study determined thehypoglycemic activity of okra among IFG participants. Subjects were random subjects withimpaired fasting glucose results upon screening. Quasi-experimental pre-test post-test wasused where a standard glucose load was consumed in the control phase and powdered okraseed-peel mixed with the glucose load was consumed during the experimental phase. The bloodsugar concentration was measured again every hour until three hours after consumption of thestandard glucose load. In the experimental phase, the same group of participants was asked toconsume 75 grams of glucose load with powdered okra peel that depends on their body weight(200 mg/kg of body mass). Fasting, 1 -hour, 2-hour and 3-hour glucose concentration weremeasured the same way it was done during the control phase. Statistical analysis revealed thatAbelmoschus esculentus has its hypoglycemic effect only during the first hour while dataresults for the 2nd and 3 rd hour are considered insignificant. The results proved that okra’smechanism in lowering glucose levels is immediate yet of short duration. Based on the datagathered, the researchers conclude that the powdered peel of Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) iseffective in lowering the blood glucose levels of IFG individuals only during the first hour afterthe administration of oral glucose load. Abelmoschus esculentus may not be effective inlowering the blood glucose after the next hours due to the fact that its mechanism of action isimmediate but of short duration. The researchers recommend future researches on the study ofAbelmoschus esculentus using increased dosage of each participant and that the experimentshould be performed at the same month.