Diabetes mellitus in Kenya is of public health concern since it causes significant mortality and complications that are long term. Though conventional drugs are used in the management of diabetes mellitus they are expensive, unavailable and also have numerous side effects. Berberis are medicinally important and are used for various purposes. Berberis holstii has traditionally been used in the management of diabetes; however, the efficacy of this herb needs to be evaluated scientifically.The study aimed at determining the in vivo antidiabetic effects of root extracts of Berberis holstii in alloxaninduced diabetic male mice. In this study, eight groups of animals with five mice each were used. The reductions in blood glucose relative to their initial values were determined after oral and intraperitoneal administration of 25, 48.4, 93.5, 180.9, and 350 mg/kg body weight. Standard hypoglycemic used to compare results were 200 mg/kg body weight (4.6 mg of glibenclamide) for oral route and 1 IU/kg body weight dose of insulin for an intraperitoneal route. The levels of glucose were measured at the start of the experiment and repeated at intervals of 2 hours up to 10 hours and at 24 hours after administering the drug. Significant (ρ<0.05) reduction in blood sugar relative to their initial values was determined for all treated diabetic groups at the end of the experiment. The composition of phytochemicals was determined using standard procedures. The results were analyzed using ANOVA and post-ANOVA.The results showed that the plant extract at 25, 48.4, 93.5, 180.9, and 350 mg/kg body weight administered effectively reduced blood glucose levels (up to 30% reduction) which could be associated with the phytochemicals present which possesses antidiabetic activities. The extracts contained tannins, flavonoids, saponins, phenols and alkaloids. The study, therefore, recommends the use of Berberis holstii in the management of diabetes mellitus.
Abstract:The study profiled the effects of oral administration of three non-therapeutic doses (400,632 and 1000mg/kg body weight) of aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens on body organs and hematological parameters on male Swiss albino mice. The experimental mice were housed at room temperature with 12hours/12hours darkness photoperiod, provided with rodent standard pellets and water ad libitum. Hematological profile and organs toxicity assay were executed using standard laboratory procedures. The result demonstrated a significant (ρ≤0.05) decrease in the weekly weight gain by the experimental mice, relative to the control mice. The normalized weight of the organs remained significantly unaffected except the lungs which were significantly increased at 400mg/kg body weight, relative to the control. Moreover, there was no significant change in the levels of the hematological indices except the monocytes, where a significant increase was observed at 632mg/kg body weight, relative to the control. The plant extract demonstrated only very mild toxicity and hence recommended for use where beneficial pharmacological activity of the plant extract has been established.
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