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Increasing incidences of diabetes in Africa has prompted the search for safe and readily available alternative herbal remedies for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Cnestis ferruginea was extracted with methanol and ethylacetate and the extracts obtained were tested for hypoglycaemic activities in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and mice. The extracts (250mg/kg body weight) were administered orally for 10 consecutive days to STZ-induced diabetic rats while a single dose (250mg/kg body weight) of the extracts were administered to STZinduced diabetic mice. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were determined in the two groups of animals after extract administration. There was significant reduction in FBG (P< 0.005) by MCF and ECF within 4 hrs of extract administration in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, administration of MCF and ECF for 10 days significantly lowered FBG in STZ diabetic rats (P<0.005) by 74% and 68%, respectively, whereas, glibenclamide -a standard antidiabetic drug reduced FBG by 60%. The levels of serum creatinine, urea, triglyceride, total cholesterol, total protein and level of lipid peroxidation were also evaluated. The extracts reduced significantly (P<0.005) the elevated levels of serum ALT and AST in diabetic treated rats. Similarly, both extracts significantly lowered (P<0.005) the levels of serum creatinine, urea, total cholesterol, triglyceride and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS). These results suggest that Cnestis ferruginea leaves contain a highly potent hypoglycaemic principle and could be a potential source for isolation of new orally active antihyperglycaemic compounds for attenuating secondary complications of diabetes such as atherosclerosis, liver and renal dysfunction.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic endocrine disorder with an increasing burden on the world population (Guariguata et al., 2014).It results due to elevation of blood glucose in the body sequel to impaired insulin secretion or utilisation (Riaz, S. (2015)). This event causes an increased threshold of mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that culminate in excessive apoptosis (Rashid & Sil, 2015). The process takes place by increased advanced glycated end products, protein kinase C, polyol pathway flux and hexosamine flux (Safi et al., 2014). Studies have shown that these processes result in complications linked to nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, spermatogenesis dysfunction, sexual hormonal imbalance, among others (Ballester et al., 2004;Tavares et al., 2018). In dysfunctional spermatogenesis, sperm behaviour and penile erection are affected, thereby impairing the reproductive system (Rashid & Sil, 2015;Shokoohi et al., 2018). Dysfunctional spermatogenesis occurs due to the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid on the sperm cells, impacting fertility (Rashid & Sil, 2015). Furthermore, it has been shown that elevated blood glucose in diabetes impairs mitochondrial function and could ultimately result in testicular death by activation of the apoptotic pathway (

This study was designed to evaluate the association between polymorphisms in pfcrt and pfmdr1 genes and in-vitro chloroquine (CQ) sensitivity in fresh isolates of P. falciparum and patients' treatment outcome. The modified schizont inhibition assay was used to determine in-vitro sensitivity of P. falciparum. Polymorphisms in pfcrt and pfmdr1 genes were detected using nested PCR and RFLP techniques in 84 P. falciparum isolates obtained from patients with acute uncomplicated malaria.Eighty five percent (71/84) and 15% (13/84) of the parasites were resistant and sensitive in-vitro to CQ respectively. Molecular analysis showed presence of mutant pfcrtT76, pfmdr1Y86 and pfmdr1F184 alleles in 60%, 33% and 14% of the isolates respectively. There was a significant association between in-vitro and in-vivo CQ resistance (p=0.029) and also between the presence of mutant pfcrtT76+pfmdr1 Y86-Y184 haplotype and in-vitro (p=0.013) or in-vivo CQ resistance (p=0.024).Overall results from this study demonstrates that the presence of pfcrtT76+ pfmdr1 Y86-Y184 haplotype in Nigerian isolates of Plasmodium falciparum is predictive of in-vitro and in-vivo CQ resistance and therefore may be useful for monitoring resistance to this drug.