GC-MS analysis and hypoglycemic properties of methanolic leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius onalloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Abstract

The GC-MS analysis and hypoglycemic properties of methanolic leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius were carried out on alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. The GC-MS results revealed the presence of thirty-seven compounds consisting of hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acid esters, aldehydes, esters, fatty acids, and nitriles with some of them having known biological properties. The hypoglycemic properties of the methanolic leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius were accessed by treating groups 3, 4, and 5 diabetic rats with 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg bw respectively of plant extract. Group 1 (negative control group) received only distilled water while group 2 (positive control group) was treated with 10 mg/kg bw of chloropropamide, a known anti-diabetic drug. A significant decrease in blood glucose levels was observed for groups treated with plant extract as compared to groups treated with chloropropamide. From the result obtained, the plant, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius could be used by diabetic patients to control blood glucose levels.