Oral Administration of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Ocimum Gratissimum Ameliorates Polyphagia, Polydipsia and Weight Loss in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The effects of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum (OG) on food, water intake and weight changes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Albino Wistar rats was studied. Eighteen rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 6 rats each for control, diabetic (DM) and diabetic-treated (DMT) groups. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the test groups (DM and DMT) by a single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg, i.p.). The extract was administered per oral to the DMT group at a dose of 1500 mg/k body weight daily for 28 days. All the groups were fed normal rat chow and allowed water freely. The fasting blood glucose levels in the DM and DMT groups were higher (P<0.001) than the control group, with the DMT group lower (P<0.01) than the DM group. There was a significant (P<0.05) loss of body weight in the DM group compared to the control (P<0.01) and DMT (P<0.05) groups. There was an increase (P<0.01) in volume of water taken by the test groups compared to the control. The water intake in DMT group was lower (P<0.01) than the DM group. The food intake in the DM group was greater (P<0.001) than the control and DMT groups, with the later higher (P<0.05) than the control group. We therefore conclude that Ocimum gratissimum reduces blood sugar level in STZ-induced diabetic rats and alleviates the cardinal symptoms of diabetes mellitus namely; polydypsia, polyphagia and weight loss.