Our results indicate that Pterocarpus erinaceus extract produced significant antidiarrheal activity and the action may attribute to inhibition of gastrointestinal movement and fluid secretion.

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Background:The effect of the methanolic leaf extracts of Icacina trichantha on blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetes in mice was investigated. Methods: Hyperglycemia was induced by the injection of 150 mg/kg (i.p.) of alloxan monohydrate freshly dissolved in distilled water. Three doses (200, 300, and 450 mg/kg) per os, of the extracts were administered in the study. The activity was compared with reference standard glibenclamide (2 mg/kg, p.o.) and negative control. Results: Treatment of alloxan-induced diabetic mice with the crude extract of I. trichantha leaves brought down the raised blood glucose levels significantly (P < 0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The result suggests that I. trichantha possesses antidiabetic property.

Background: The fruit extract of Dacryodes edulis (D. edulis), the African pear or plum, a tree indigenous to the humid tropics has been used for managing wounds, skin diseases, sickle cell anaemia, dysentery and fever in some African nations. In South Eastern Nigeria, 'herbal doctors' include its marshed fruit in decoctions administered to diabetic patients. However no scientific substantiation of their claim and use exist in literature. Hence, the need to evaluate the antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic activity of hexane extracts of D. edulis fruit in alloxanised animal model. Materials and Methods: Sub-toxic doses between 400 and 1600mg/kg were orally administered sub-chronically to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 15 days and compared to glibenclamide (2.5mg/kg). The glycaemia levels, body weights, lipid profile, blood urea, creatinine and liver enzyme levels were measured. Basic histology of the pancreatic tissue was also performed to examine the effects on the pancreas as possible mechanistic lead. Results: Oral acute dosing of D. edulis hexane extract decreased blood glucose levels, while sub-chronic treatment of the extract down-regulated significantly hyperglycaemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, ALT and ALP levels. However, the HDL-C levels increased significantly. Histopathological examination of the pancreatic tissues after sub-chronic treatment showed that glibenclamide and the highest dose of the extract 1600mg/kg restored the afore-damaged pancreatic β-cell architecture. Conclusion: Our findings portend that D. edulis hexane fruit extract possesses hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities as well as restoration of the pancreatic architecture without any obvious untoward hepatic damages, suggesting that its use in the management of the diabetes may be valid.

Objective. Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is folklorically used to “treat” diabetic conditions in some parts of Nigeria therefore the study, to investigate the extract of the leaves for activities on hyperglycaemia, lipid peroxidation, and increased cholesterol levels in vivo in alloxan diabetic rats as well as its potential antioxidant activity in vitro. Methods. Albino rats (240–280 g) were given an injection of 120 mg/kg body weight, i.p. of alloxan monohydrate. After 8 days, diabetic animals with elevated fasting blood glucose levels (>9 mmol/L) were considered and selected for the study. Results. Oral treatment with the extract administered every 12 h by gavage at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract to the test rats, for 14 days, resulted in a significant dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose levels from 12.82 ± 1.02 mmol/dL to 4.92 ± 2.01 mmol/dL at the highest dose of 400 mg/kg compared to the control drug and glibenclamide as well as attendant significant decline in diabetic rats employed in the study. Conclusion. The extract also showed in vitro concentration-dependent antioxidant activity following the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing assays. Findings further suggest the presence of active antidiabetic and antioxidant principles in M. oppositifolius leaves.

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The effect of methanolic extract of Hymenocardia acida leaves on diabetes and associated lipidemia were investigated on experimentally-induced diabetic rats. The extract did not demonstrate any acutely toxic effect in rats within the dose range (250 mg/kg -2000 mg/kg) employed in the study; hence it was well tolerated by the rats. In all experiments, the anti-diabetic effects were dose-dependent and comparable to that of glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) standard. At a dose of 500 mg/kg, lipid profile markers such as the serum total cholesterol (TC) levels, LDL-C, triglycerides and HDL-C were significantly lower (p <0.05) than those of both the treated and untreated controls. IntroductionDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a multi-factorial disease characterised by hyperglycaemia and lipoprotein abnormalities (Scoppola et al., 2001). The disease affects approximately more than 5% of the world's population (Kameswararao et al., 2003). Apart from the hyperglycaemia, several factors including dyslipidemia or hyperlipidemia are involved in the micro-and macrovascular complications associated with the disease; a major cause of morbidity and death (Taskinen, 1993). Diabetic disease is increasing rapidly and vast amounts of resources are spent in all countries (Verspohl, 2002). Currently available therapies for diabetes include insulin and various oral anti-diabetic agents such as sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, troglitazones, etc; used either as monotherapy or in combination to achieve better glycaemic conditions. Each of the above oral agents suffers from various serious adverse effects. Furthermore, the overall search for anti-diabetic agents has not been rewarded with marketable novel agents in the last two decades (Dewanjee et al., 2008); attempts are still made to find such drugs.Plants however have played a significant role in the introduction of new therapeutic agents. Metformin was discovered from Galega officinalis, a medicinal plant. In Nigeria, traditional medicine occupies a unique position in health care delivery, especially among the rural populace. However, the activities of herbalists are surrounded with a lot of secrecy and lack of scientific procedure, hence the need to standardise the practice of traditional medicine.Folkloric uses of the leaves of Hymenocardia acida include the treatment of conditions like diarrhoea (Tona et al., 1999), malaria (Vonthron-Sénécheau et al., 2003), dysentery, diabetes mellitus by the Igede people of Benue State (Igoli et al., 2005), Wounds and Skin diseases (Igoli et al., 2003) and is also shown to have anti-tumour and anti-HIV activities (Muanza et al., 1995). The present investigation was therefore intended to examine the potential anti-diabetic activity of the methanolic leaf extracts of H. acida using alloxan induced-diabetic rat model. Materials and Methods AnimalsOut bred Albino Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 185 -278 g were purchased from the Laboratory Animal Facility of the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of ...