Antidiabetic activity and phytochemical screening of Acalypha wilkesiana (Euphorbiaceae) Mull Arg. roots in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effects and biochemical parameters of methanol root extract of Acalypha wilkesiana Mull Arg. (MEAW) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The effect of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) on fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) level and liver glycogen content were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats after 14 days. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed on the diabetic rats. Dose selection was made on the basis of acute oral toxicity study. Phytochemical analysis of the root extract was carried out following standard procedures. The most significant (p<0.05) reduction of FBG level of 74.06% was observed for 400 mg/kg in alloxan induced diabetic rats. A significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum TC and TG level of 50.43 and 58.05% respectively was also observed for the high dose of the extract. The SGOT and SGPT levels were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. The MEAW also showed improvement of body weight in diabetic rats. The animals showed no mortality at a dose of 5000 mg/kg while results of phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of mainly alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and tannins. These results show that the root of Acalypha wilkesiana possesses antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective effects.

Evaluation of the Antidiabetic and Associated Effect of Methanol Root Extract of Strophanthushispidus DC (Apocynaceae) on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Plants have been shown to have antidiabetic properties and have been used in traditional medicines in management of diabetes mellitus (Osadebe et al, 2014). Some medicinal plants with investigated antidiabetic potentials include; Ceiba pentandra ( Odoh et al, 2016), Acalypha wilkesiana ( Odoh et al, 2014),Acanthus montanus (Odoh et al, 2013), Abelmoschus moschatus (Liu et al, 2007),, Carum carvi (Eddouks et al, 2004), Acacia Arabica (Yasir et al, 2010), Allium cepa (Eidi et al, 2006), Andrographis paniculata (Dandu and Inamdar, 2009), Aegle maarmelose (Seema et al, 1996), Azadirachata indica (Chattopadhyay, 1996), Brassica juncea (Thirumalai et al, 2003).…”

Acalypha Wilkesiana ‘Java White’: Identification of Some Bioactive Compounds by Gc-Ms and Their Effects on Key Enzymes Linked to Type 2 Diabete

“…Arg. of leaves and roots have been reported in some recent studies (12,14,15), the underlying mechanisms behind these effects and phytochemical constituents of different parts of this plant are not fully understood.…”

“…Odoh et al (14) and Olukunle et al (12) reported the antidiabetic and hypoglycemic as well as hypolipidemic activities of root and leaf extracts, respectively, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats; however, stembark was not used in their studies and Odoh et al (14) only qualitatively determined the phytochemical constituents in root extracts. Furthermore, Igwe et al (16) only analyzed the leaf ethanolic extract to identify its bioactive compounds by using GC-MS while other parts of the plant were not analyzed.…”

“…Furthermore, Igwe et al (16) only analyzed the leaf ethanolic extract to identify its bioactive compounds by using GC-MS while other parts of the plant were not analyzed. On the other hand, although aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves and root bark of this plant have been shown to reduce blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic animals (12,14), the mechanisms behind these effects are still unknown.…”

“…Hence, this study was designed not only to analyze the phytochemical constituents of the ethanolic extracts of leaf, root bark and stem bark of A. wilkesiana "Java white" via GC-MS analysis but also to examine the effects of various extracts from the different parts of the plant on the activity of enzymes linked to T2D, such as α-glucosidase, α-amylase and lipase, to understand the mechanisms behind their reported hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects (12,14).…”