Safety and hypoglycaemic properties of aqueous leaf extract of <i>Ocimum gratissimum</i> in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Abstract

Summary:The claim by Nigerian traditional herbal medicine practitioners that Ocimum gratissimum leaves have antidiabetic properties was investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced with streptozotocin and graded doses of the aqueous leaf extract were administered orally to the experimentally diabetic rats for 28 days. Administration of the aqueous leaf extract caused a statistically significant reduction in plasma glucose level in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The extract appeared nontoxic as evidenced by normal serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, TPT, ALB and bilirubin. These data appear to agree with claimed hypoglycaemic effects of Ocimum gratissimum.

Hypoglycemic Effect of Ocimum Lamiifolium in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice

“…The lowering effect of blood sugar levels by Ocimum lamiifolium in the same manner regardless of the dosage might suggest that the extract may have been absorbed in the cell system through active transport where a particular concentration saturation of the extract occurred resulting to the rest of extract being excreted [16]. Similar results have been reported on the hypoglycemic activity of plant extracts of L. wightiana and L. camara Linn [17,18], Artemisia herba [19] Colocynthis citrullus [20] and Ocimum gratissimum [21,22].…”

Ethanolic Extract of <i>Ocimum Grattissimum</i> Leaves (Linn.) Rapidly Lowers Blood Glucose Levels in Diabetic Wistar Rats

“…Hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activity in rats have also been studied. Egesie and his colleagues concluded that the plant was an effective antidiabetic agent [21]. Because the administration of graded doses of the aqueous leaf extract produced a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum glucose concentration when compared with diabetic control rats and normal control rats they also reported that twenty eight day administration of the extract to non diabetic rats did not produce any significant difference in the plasma glucose concentration of non diabetic extract treated rats compared with control [21].…”

“…A number of studies in the past have been conducted to investigate the hypoglycaemic or possible antidiabetic effects of Ocimum gratissimum [9,21,22]. This study investigated the effects of Ocimum gratissimum on blood glucose levels in the diabetic state using the ethanolic extract of the leaves which contains a higher concentration of secondary constituents that are present in both extracts (ethanolic and aqeous ), and has lipids and eugenol which are absent in the aqueous extract.…”

“…Although there have been reports on the hypoglycaemic potential, of this herb using intraperitoneal injections of methanolic extract [9], intraperitoneal injection of aqueous extract [22] or in another study oral administration of aqueous extracts [21], little has however been done to compare the hypoglycaemic effects of this herb with presently available oral hypoglycaemic agents: hence this study.…”

“…Egesie and his colleagues concluded that the plant was an effective antidiabetic agent [21]. Because the administration of graded doses of the aqueous leaf extract produced a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum glucose concentration when compared with diabetic control rats and normal control rats they also reported that twenty eight day administration of the extract to non diabetic rats did not produce any significant difference in the plasma glucose concentration of non diabetic extract treated rats compared with control [21]. Mohammed et al in 2007 reported that following intraperitoneal administration of Ocimum gratissimum there was significant reduction in blood glucose levels at the 500 mg/kg dose after 8 and 24 hours of administration and this effect was better than the effects seen with biphasic isophane insulin at this time intervals [22].…”