Abstract
Aloe secundiflora has been used traditionally to manage many diseases including diabetes, however, its antidiabetic activity and safety is not well evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine in vivo hypoglycemic activity and safety of the aqueous stem bark extracts of this plant in male swiss white albino mice. The antidiabetic activity was screened in alloxan induced diabetic mice using oral and intraperitoneal routes. The safety of the extract was studied in mice that were orally and intraperitoneally administered with 1 g/kg body weight of the extract daily for 28 days by recording changes in body and organ weights, hematological and biochemical parameters. Mineral composition was estimated using total reflection X-ray fluorescence system and atomic absorption spectrometry. Phytochemical composition was assessed using standard procedures. The extract showed significant and consistent hypoglycemic activity at dose levels of 50 mg/kg body weight through oral route and 300 mg/kg body weight through intraperitoneal route. Oral administration of 1 g/kg body weight of the extract decreased levels of platelets, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and direct bilirubin while elevated the level of creatine kinase. Reduction in the growth rate and increase in percent of organ to body weight of brain together with elevated levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, α-amylase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were recorded in mice intraperitoneally administered with 1 g/kg body weight of the extract. The extracts contained tannins, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids. Sodium, Chlorine, Potassium, Calcium, Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Cadmium, and Magnesium were present in the extracts at levels below the recommended daily allowance. The observed hypoglycemic activity and slight toxicity could be associated with the phytochemicals and mineral/trace elements present in this extract.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic disorders which is characterized by hyperglycemia and associated with serious micro vascular and macro vascular complications like retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular disorders and peripheral vascular complications with associated risk for foot ulcers and amputation [1]
Oral administration of 1 g/kg body weight of aqueous stem bark extracts of Aloe secundiflora to mice for one month caused a significant increase in the level Creatine Kinase (CK) and a significant decline in the levels of Alanine transaminase (ALT), AST, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Direct bilirubin (D-BIL) and creatinine relative to that of the normal control mice; the levels of Urea, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-AMY, and Total bilirubin (T-BIL) were similar to those of the normal control mice (Tables 5 and 6)
Intraperitoneal administration of the same dose of aqueous stem bark extracts of Aloe secundiflora to mice for one month increased the levels of γ-GT, AMY, ALP, T-BIL and D-BIL but did not significantly alter the levels of Urea, ALT, AST, LDH, CK, and creatinine relative to that of the normal control mice (Tables 5 and 6)
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic disorders which is characterized by hyperglycemia and associated with serious micro vascular and macro vascular complications like retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular disorders and peripheral vascular complications with associated risk for foot ulcers and amputation [1]. According to a recent estimation by the World Health Organization (WHO) diabetes mellitus has a global prevalence of 9% among adults. Diabetes is sometimes considered a condition of developed nations, the loss of life from premature death among persons with diabetes is greatest in developing countries. In developing countries it is people in the middle, productive years of their lives that are affected by diabetes. In these countries three-quarters of all people with diabetes are under 65 years old and 25% of all adults with diabetes are younger than 44 years. More than half of all people with diabetes are older than 65 years, and only 8% of adults with diabetes are younger than 44 years [5]
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