Research ArticlePreliminary phytochemical screenPreliminary phytochemical screenPreliminary phytochemical screening and evaluation of hypoglycemic ing and evaluation of hypoglycemic ing and evaluation of hypoglycemic properties of the root extract of properties of the root extract of properties of the root extract of Uvaria chamae Uvaria chamae Uvaria chamae BJP IntroductionDiabetes mellitus has been described as a metabolic disorder of multiple etiologies characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both (Walter, 1977;Albert et al., 1998;Kumar and Clark, 2005).It is a major degenerative disease in the world today afflicting many lives both in the developed and developing countries (Mbaka et al., 2012). It is usually irreversible and its late complications result in reduced life expectancy and major health loss (Kumar and Clark, 2005). Currently diabetes is controlled by diet, exercise, oral hypoglycaemic agents and insulin therapy (Mallick et al., 2007). The high level of treatment failures, unpleasant side effects and enormous cost associated with oral anti-diabetic drugs have generated an urgent need and desire for alternative treatments (Suneetha et al., 2010). The preferred choice of plant medicine by many might not be unconnected with the historical successes recorded in the use of herbal product in traditional system of medicine in managing diabetes mellitus (Mbaka et al., 2012). Besides, herbal formulations were observed to have fewer side effects and less toxic because of their rich natural source. Based on these and the support provided for its practice by the World Health Organization, several scientific investigations are being conducted with the view of identifying new active ingredient of natural source that would be more effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications (WHO, 1980). Uvaria chamae is a medicinal plant that belongs to the family, Annonaceae. It is a climbing plant commonly found in West Africa (Irvin, 1961;Okwu, 2004 AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the hypoglycaemic properties and preliminary phytochemical screening of Uvaria chamae. The hypoglycaemic properties of U. chamae was assessed on normoglycaemic rat that received single dose of the extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight and blood glucose levels estimated at 2, 4, and 6 hours (single dose study). The hypoglycaemic property of the extract was also evaluated in normoglycemic rats by oral glucose tolerance test. Phytochemical screening of the extract for the presence of secondary metabolites was performed with standard methods. The extract showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood glucose levels at 2 and 6 hours compared to control. The oral glucose tolerance test result also showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in blood glucose levels. The study showed that the extract, U. chamae has hypoglycaemic properties which may be accounted for by the presence of t...