Abstract
Objective: In southeastern Nigeria, Nauclea diderrichii (De Wild) Merr is used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments including diabetes mellitus (DM). This study evaluates the antidiabetic activity and toxicological profile of the methanol-dichloromethane root bark extract of N. diderrichii in normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic models.Methods: Dried root barks of N. diderrichii were extracted using methanol and dichloromethane (1:1) to obtain N. diderrichii extract (NDE). The acute and sub-chronic toxicity tests were performed using standard procedures. The effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (HB) and total white blood cell (TWBC) count was determined in the rats after treatment. In order to elucidate its antidiabetic mode of action, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed using glucose (2 g/kg) as substrate and alloxan (100 mg/kg; i. v.) induced diabetic model. Glibenclamide (GLI 0.2 mg/kg) was used as the reference standard drug.Results: The results indicated that the LD50 of the extract is>5000 mg/kg. ALT, AST, ALP PCV, HB and TWBC were insignificantly (p>0.05) different compared with the control. No significant changes were observed in the organ weights compared with the control. In the acute and prolonged antidiabetic study, NDE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the blood glucose level (BGL) by 14.66, 18.9, 25.80% and 75.11, 80.24, 83.74% respectively. In comparison, GLI, when administered, reduced BGL by 38.18 and 92.86% respectively.Conclusion: N. diderrichii possesses antidiabetic activity with good toxicological profile.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major health concerns worldwide
There are many experimental pieces of evidence indicating the use of plants for medicinal purposes, the plant kingdom has become a target for the search of biologically active lead compounds for the complementary/alternative management of diabetes mellitus [3]
Fresh root barks of N. diderrichii were collected from Nsukka (6 ° 52' 0" North, 7 ° 23' 0" East), Enugu State, Nigeria in the month of July 2015
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major health concerns worldwide. It is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and associated abnormalities in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, resulting from a deficiency in insulin secretion, action or both [1]. High cost of antidiabetic drugs and the associated side effects of standard agents have necessitated the search for newer molecules from natural sources [2]. There are many experimental pieces of evidence indicating the use of plants for medicinal purposes, the plant kingdom has become a target for the search of biologically active lead compounds for the complementary/alternative management of diabetes mellitus [3]. Plant extracts can elicit different biological effects in the body, some of which may be harmful [4]. The toxicological evaluation of plant extracts is very necessary as this often helps to assess their safety in humans
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