Abstract
Vitex doniana Sweet and Cinchona calisaya WEED are tropical medicinal plants endued with important pharmacological properties. The effects of aqueous extracts of V. doniana leaves and C. calisaya bark on alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in Wistar albino rats were evaluated. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intraperitoneal ( i.p) injection of 150 mg/kg body wt of alloxan monohydrate. The aqueous extracts of V. doniana leaves and C. calisaya bark were administered intraperitoneally to four diabetic groups at same doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body wt. The actions of the extracts were compared with that of the standard oral hypoglycaemic agent, glibenclamide. Both extracts caused significant (p < 0.001) decreases in blood sugar levels of the rats at both doses tested. At 50 mg/kg body wt. V. doniana leaf extract produced 82.9% reduction in blood sugar level (i.e from 492.8 to 84.5 mg/dl) after four days whereas, C. calisaya caused 64.4% decrease. Unlike C. calisaya bark, V. doniana at both doses tested, was more potent than the reference drug, glibenclamide (0.3 mg/ kg body wt.). The antidiabetic activity of V. doniana did not vary with the dose, whereas the observed effect of C. calisaya decreased with increase in dose. C. calisaya exhibited higher antidiabetic activity at a lower dose of 50 mg/kg body wt. Both medicinal plants therefore possess valuable antidiabetic property. Their effects on the antioxidant status were also investigated. V. doniana and C. calisaya extracts Research Article International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2(4): 290-300, 2012 291 caused increases in the activity of SOD and lipid peroxidation when compared with control, but the increases were lower than that produced by alloxan, indicating attenuation of free radical generation. Quantitative phytochemical analyses of both extracts showed the presence of saponins(0.92%), flavonoids(7.05%), alkaloids(1.8%), and cardiac glycosides(2.8%) in V. doniana, whereas saponins(2.0%), flavonoids(5.0%), alkaloids(6.0%), and cardiac glycosides(3.54%) were detected in C. calisaya.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia together with biochemical alterations of glucose and lipid metabolism [1]
Unlike C. calisaya, the extract of V. doniana was more potent than the reference drug, glibenclamide, 0.3 mg/ kg body wt., (79.91%, i.e. from 408.8±38.3 to 98.5±8.5) at both doses tested
Our investigation revealed significant (p < 0.001) decreases in the blood sugar levels of the diabetic rats treated with doses of the extract ofboth plants
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia together with biochemical alterations of glucose and lipid metabolism [1]. This chronic disorder arises as a result of insufficient production of the pancreatic β-cells hormone insulin or inadequate utilization of insulin. Two major types of diabetes mellitus reported to increase mortality and morbidity are the type I commonly known as insulin – dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and type 2, called non-insulin – dependent – diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). At least 80% of Africans depend on herbal medicine for their health care [2,3,4,5]. Herbal preparations with anti-diabetic potentials are growing in popularity
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