Abstract
The antidiabetic properties of extracts of three Nigerian medicinal plants - Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae, formerly Labiatae), Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Viscum album L. (Viscaceae or Loranthaceae) parasitic on Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) on normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats were studied. The extracts (258.3 g, 6.89% w/w of P. niruri, 189.17 g, 6.76% w/w of V. album and 131.50 g, 6.41% w/w of O. basilicum), obtained by 48 h cold maceration in methanol: methylene chloride (1:1), were evaluated for hypoglycemic and oral glucose tolerance effects in normoglycemic rats and antihyperglycemic effect in alloxan (100 mg/kg i.p) diabetic (blood glucose level ≥ 200 mg/dl) rats. The results showed that acute oral administration of the extracts to normoglycemic rats caused a mild to moderate non-dose-related reduction in blood glucose levels. The extracts significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed the acute postprandial rise in blood glucose to varying extents. Extract of O. basilicum lowered the elevated glucose level to 13.67% at 180 min while P. niruri and V. album reduced the glucose level to 16.87 and 17.33%, respectively. In alloxan diabetic rats, the extracts caused a significant (P < 0.05) non-dose-related reduction in blood glucose with 52.31 (O. basilicum), 44.29 (P. niruri) and 16.71% (V. album) maximum reduction at 6 h. Key words: Alloxan, diabetes mellitus, Nigerian medicinal plants.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to defective insulin action, insulin secretion or both
In Nigeria, medicinal plants popularly used for the treatment of diabetes include Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae, formerly Labiatae), Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Viscum album L. (Viscaceae or Loranthaceae) parasitic
Acute oral administration of the extracts to normoglycemic rats caused a mild to moderate reduction in blood glucose level over time
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to defective insulin action, insulin secretion or both. In various parts of the world, several medicinal plants are employed in the management of DM (Verspohl, 2002; Akah et al, 2002; De Sousa et al, 2004; Colea, 2006). In Nigeria, medicinal plants popularly used for the treatment of diabetes include Ocimum basilicum L. O. basilicum, known as ‘Sweet basil’, is an annual common garden herb (Simon, 1995) believed to have originated from central Africa and Southeast Asia
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