Hypoglycemic effects of Teucrium polium.

Teucrium polium has a folk reputation as a hypoglycemic agent. The hypoglycemic activity of an aqueous decoction of plant aerial parts was tested in normoglycemic and streptozotocin-hyperglycemic rats. Results indicate that this extract caused significant reductions in blood glucose concentration 4 h after intravenous administration and 24 h after intraperitoneal administration. This effect could be due to enhancement of peripheral metabolism of glucose rather than an increase in insulin release.