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Diabetes mellitus is a growing metabolic pandemic that demands affordable, safer antihyperglycaemic agents. Muntingia calabura leaves contain flavonoids that inhibit digestive glucosidases in vitro, yet their in vivo efficacy remains under-explored. This study assessed the hypoglycaemic activity of extract of M. calabura leaves extract in adult zebrafish rendered diabetic by 72 hours immersion in 4 % glucose solution. Fish were allocated to six groups (n = 40 each): normoglycaemic control, diabetic control, metformin (1.65 mg/L) and extract at 50, 100 or 150 mg/L. Fasting blood glucose was measured on days 0, 3, 5, 7 and 14 using glucometer. Data obtained met Shapiro–Wilk normality and were analysed by one-way ANOVA with Games–Howell post hoc testing (α = 0.05). Glucose immersion elevated glycaemia to 111 ± 6 mg/dL (>1.5-fold baseline). By day 14, the 150 mg/L extract reduced glucose to 24.5 ± 1.1 mg/dL, an 89 % decline versus diabetic control (227 ± 5 mg/dL) and slightly surpassing metformin (29.5 ± 2.4 mg/dL). All extract doses produced significant blood glucose reductions (p<0.001). These findings demonstrate potent antihyperglycemic properties of M. calabura leaf extract in diabetic zebrafish model, supporting its further investigation as herbal-based antidiabetic agent.

hypoglycaemic activity; Muntingia calabura L.; herbal medicine; zebrafish