Evaluation of the Anti-diabetic Property of Morinda lucida Leaves in Streptozotocin-diabetic Rats

Abstract

The hypoglycaemic and anti-hyperglycaemic activities of a methanol extract of Morinda lucida Benth. (Rubiaceae) leaves were studied in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. In normal rats, the extract demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent hypoglycaemic activity within 4 h after oral administration. The plasma glucose level of 400 mg kg(-1) of the extract at 4 h was 42.5 +/- 0.4 mg/100 mL (control 67.4 +/- 1.2 mg/100 mL). After 12 h, the plasma glucose level of rats administered 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg kg(-1) extract fell to 51.9 +/- 1.2, 47.3 +/- 0.8, 43.1 +/- 0.4 and 40.0 +/- 0.5 mg/100 mL, respectively. In hyperglycaemic rats, the extract produced a significant (P < 0.05) anti-diabetic effect from day 3 after oral administration, with 400 mg kg(-1) extract-treated animals having a plasma glucose level of 248.7 +/- 5.3 mg/100 mL compared with glibenclamide (10 mg kg(-1))-treated animals with a plasma glucose level of 251.5 +/- 5.8 mg/100 mL. These results suggest that the leaves of Morinda lucida have a strong glucose lowering property when administered to streptozotocin-treated rats.

Pharmacological evaluation of oral hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects of fresh leaves ethanol extract of morinda lucida benth. in normal and alloxan- induced diabetic rats

“…Result of this study is in consonance with that reported for the dried leaves extract of Morinda lucida Benth. in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats, by Olajide et al (1999). Equally, Olajide et al (1999) and Asuzu and Chineme (1990) independently reported Morinda leaves to contain high concentrations of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponin.…”

“…in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats, by Olajide et al (1999). Equally, Olajide et al (1999) and Asuzu and Chineme (1990) independently reported Morinda leaves to contain high concentrations of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponin. Literature has equally shown the biological activities of alkaloids and flavonoids to include hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia, hypoazotemia, hypotension among other biological effects (Oladele et al, 1995;Sudheesh et al, 2005).…”

Antidiabetic Effects of Leaves Extracts of Psidium guajava L. and Lagerstroemia speciosa L. in STZ-induced Rats

“…For ages, many countries have applied traditional medical plants to treat hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus [1,6,13,26], and more than 400 plants have been reported with their glucose reduction effects [2]. Recently the interest on medical plants is getting high as oral agents used to treat DM cause various side effects [4,15] while taking traditional medical plants in a natural form of extracts show treatment effect as good as that of therapeutic agents without side effects.…”

“…Hyperglycemia triggered by DM is usually caused due to the decrease in insulin secretion, decrease in glucose utilization of tissue and increase in the generation of glucose. Hyperglycemia's symptoms include obsessive thirst, glucosuria, polyuria, lipemia and hunger, and if left without treatment, this can result in patient's death due to critical ketoacidosis [27].For ages, many countries have applied traditional medical plants to treat hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus [1,6,13,26], and more than 400 plants have been reported with their glucose reduction effects [2]. Recently the interest on medical plants is getting high as oral agents used to treat DM cause various side effects [4,15] while taking traditional medical plants in a natural form of extracts show treatment effect as good as that of therapeutic agents without side effects.…”

“…However, there was difference in antidiabetic effects of the extracts used in this experiment as consuming guava extracts was more effective compared to consuming banaba extracts in increasing insulin secretion, reducing glucose level, improving hyperlipidemia and recovering the beta cell of Langerhans islets. In general, polyphenols are contained in the seeds, fruits, leaves and barks of medicinal plants [28] and protect plants from other external invaders [26]. Therefore, the antidiabetic effects of medical plants can be triggered by various flavonoids, glycosides and terpenoids [5,7,31].…”