ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF THE LEAF EXTRACT AND FRACTION OF Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach & Thonn.) Müll. Arg ON STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS.
ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF THE LEAF EXTRACT AND FRACTION OF Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach & Thonn.) Müll. Arg ON STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-03
Authors
KARIMA, MOHAMMED RABIU
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Aqueous concoction made from the crushed leaves of Alchornea cordifolia (Christmas bush) is used in Nigeria and other parts of Africa as a remedy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and other ailments. The aim of the study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of Alchornea cordifolia leaf extract and fraction in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Liver and heamatological biochemical parameters were also investigated. In the experiment, a total of forty five (45) rats were used. They were randomly divided into 9 groups of 5 rats each. Normal rats were assigned group 1, untreated diabetic rats were assigned group 2. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received varying doses (200, 400, 800 mg/kg bw/day) of n-butanol fraction of Alchornea cordifolia leaf ethanolic extract either extract/fraction or standard anti-diabetic drug daily for four (4) weeks, orally. Groups 6, 7 and 8 received varying doses (200, 400, 800 mg/kg bw/day) of ethanolic extract, while rats in group 9 were treated with the standard drug, glibenclamide (10mg/kg bw/day). After the 14th, 21st and 28th day treatment of diabetic rats with all doses of the plant extract and glibenclamide, there was a significant increase in the body weight of diabetic rats. The study showed that there was a significant reduction in the fasting blood sugar (FBG) levels in the entire streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with ethanolic extract and its fraction, with a maximum reduction of 13.6% and 16.2% in the FBG level at 400 and 800mg/kg bw doses of n-butanol fraction respectively. There was significant decrease in the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and increased HDL-C in streptozotocin-induced diabetic treated groups, and percent reduction of 12.4% , 18.7% , 19.5% of TC, TAG, LDL-C respectively were observed in the groups treated with 800mg/kg n-butanol fraction when compared with the group of diabetic rats (85.3, 117.2, 91.9 %), and percent increase in the concentration of HDL-C, (10.8 and 12.9 %) was recorded in the group treated with 800mg/kg N-
vi
butanol fraction and 800mg/kg ethanol extract respectively. Maximum reduction in the concentration of ALT, 2.7% was recorded in the group treated with 800mg/kg ethanol extract. A marked reduction in the concentration of AST, (2.51 and 2.42%) was observed in the groups treated with 400 and 800mg/kg N-butanol fraction respectively. A high decrease in the level of ALP, 5.4% was recorded in the group administered with 400mg/kg n-butanol fraction. The levels of TB and DCB were reduced significantly (0.4 and 0.6%) respectively for groups treated with 200mg/kg ethanol extract. There was a significant increase in packed cell volume, red cell count, haemoglobin concentration and total protein in the extract and glibenclamide treated diabetic. Total white blood cell count and lymphocyte revealed a significantly increased levels after treatment with the n-butanol fraction of Alchornea cordifolia leaf ethanol extract after 28th days. No death was recorded after three (3) weeks of sub-acute toxicity study. The histopathological studies of the pancreas of diabetic animals revealed the degeneration of pancreatic Islet cells, but with the restoration of pancreatic Islet cells in the pancreas of diabetic group treated with various doses of the plant extract. The implications of the results obtained in the present study provide the scientific rationale for the use of Alchornea cordifolia as antidiabetic agent in the management of diabetes and dyslipidemia usually associated with the disease. In addition, the plant had erythropoietic effect on the experimental animals.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In Partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Award of Master of Science Degree in Biochemistry
Keywords
ANTIDIABETIC,, ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC,, EFFECTS,, LEAF EXTRACT,, FRACTION,, Alchornea,, cordifolia,, (Schumach & Thonn.), Müll., STREPTOZOTOCIN,, INDUCED,, DIABETIC,, WISTAR,, RATS.