Antidiabetic activity and phytochemical screening of extracts of the leaves of Ajuga remota Benth on alloxan-induced diabetic mice

Tadesse Bekele Tafesse,Ariaya Hymete,Yalemtsehay Mekonnen,Mekuria Tadesse

doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1757-5

Abstract

BackgroundAjuga remota Benth is traditionally used in Ethiopia for the management of diabetes mellitus. Since this claim has not been investigated scientifically, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect and phytochemical screening of the aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic mice.MethodsAfter acute toxicity test, the Swiss albino mice were induced with alloxan to get experimental diabetes animals. The fasting mean blood glucose level before and after treatment for two weeks in normal, diabetic untreated and diabetic mice treated with aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts were performed. Data were statistically evaluated by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe medium lethal doses (LD50) of both extracts were higher than 5000 mg/kg, indicating the extracts are not toxic under the observable condition. Aqueous extracts of A.remota (300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight) reduced elevated blood glucose levels by 27.83 ± 2.96% and 38.98 ± 0.67% (P < 0.0001), respectively while the 70% ethanol extract caused a reduction of 27.94 ± 1.92% (300 mg/kg) & 28.26 ± 1.82% (500 mg/kg). Treatment with the antidiabetic drug, Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight) lowered blood glucose level by 51.06% (p < 0.05). Phytochemical screening of both extracts indicated the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and steroids, which might contribute to the antidiabetic activity. The extracts, however, did not contain alkaloids and anthraquinones.ConclusionThe aqueous extract (500 mg/kg) showed the highest percentage reduction in blood glucose levels and the ability of A. remota extracts in reducing blood glucose levels presumably due to the presence of antioxidant constituents such as flavonoids. The effect of the extract supported the traditional claim of the plant.

Highlights

Ajuga remota Benth is traditionally used in Ethiopia for the management of diabetes mellitus
Acute toxicity test The acute toxicity study showed that the administration of graded doses of both the aqueous and 70% ethanol extracts of A.remota did not generate any observable signs of toxicity up to the dose of 5000 mg/kg, which is consistent with Debela et al, 2005 [22] and Hailu and Engidawork, 2014 reports [23]
This was confirmed by the absence of significant changes in behaviours such as alertness, motor activity, weight loss, sluggishness, paralysis, breathing, restlessness, diarrhoea, convulsions, and coma

Summary

Introduction

Ajuga remota Benth is traditionally used in Ethiopia for the management of diabetes mellitus. Cardiovascular diseases, neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy are among the major risks that are associated with diabetes. These chronic complications may lead to hardening and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis) that could advance to stroke, coronary heart disease, and other blood vessel diseases, nerve damage, kidney failure, and blindness with time [3]. In 2015, according to IDF report, 415 million (8.8%) adults (aged 20–79) worldwide were estimated to have diabetes; this number is expected to rise to 642 million (10.4%) by 2040 or one adult in ten people. South Africa (2.3 million), Democratic Republic of Congo (1.8 million), Nigeria (1.6 million) and Ethiopia (1.3 million) are among the highly populated African countries containing the highest number of people living with diabetes [2]

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