Abstract
Background: Ocimum gratissimum (OG) is used in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria. This study investigated the anti-diabetic potential of OG leaf fractions (OGLF) in a rat model of Type-2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: Methanol crude extract of OG leaf was fractionated with solvents of increasing order of polarity (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl-acetate, n-butanol and water). The anti-diabetic potential of the fractions was evaluated in vivo. T2D was induced in Albino Wistar rats and treated with OGLF. Results: The T2D rats showed significant elevation in serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), liver and kidney function biomarkers. At 4-week of intervention with OGLF, the untreated diabetic control group maintained severe hyperglycaemia in the presence of 61.7% serum insulin, 17.3% pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA-β) and 51.5% Insulin sensitivity. The glucose tolerance ability was enhanced in the n-butanol-fraction (OGb) treated group. With 74.8% available serum insulin and 38.6% improvement in insulin sensitivity, the OGb treated group had a 63.5% reduction in FBG and it was found to be most effective as it ameliorates a majority of the changes caused in the studied parameters in diabetic rats. Conclusions: The data from this study suggest that OGb fraction is a potential candidate for the development of an effective drug for the management of T2D.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is an important chronic metabolic disorder of public health concern
The photomicrograph in this study reveals normal pancreatic islets β-cells in the normal control group, with the diabetic negative control group reflecting evidence of deformation and not complete destruction associated with Type-1 diabetes
This study showed that the daily administration of n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions of Ocimum gratissimum leaf resulted in reduction in blood glucose levels in the new animal model of Type-2 diabetes (T2D)
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is an important chronic metabolic disorder of public health concern. It occurs either as a result of pancreatic defects in insulin secretion or the failure of the receptor cells to effectively utilise secreted insulin or both [1,2,3]. An estimated 422 million adults were reported to be living with diabetes in. 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980; a dramatic rise in prevalence rate from 4.7% to 8.5% in the adult population [3]. In 2015 in Nigeria alone, 1.56 million cases were reported including 105,091 deaths [2]. This study investigated the anti-diabetic potential of OG leaf fractions (OGLF) in a rat model of Type-2 diabetes (T2D).
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