Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of antidiabetic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with aqueous leaf extract of <i>Acanthospermum hispidum</i>

Abstract

The current study is aimed at investigating the antidiabetic activity of the leaves of Acanthospermum hispidum, a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus in North Western Nigeria. Material from the plant was extracted using water (guided by the traditional mode of extraction) and the phytochemicals contained in the extract were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Acute toxicity study of the extract was conducted, and diabetic rats induced using alloxan (80 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally once daily for 3 days) were treated with the extract for 28 days at 3 incremental doses (70, 210 and 700 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, fasting blood glucose and glycogen content of the liver and skeletal muscle were determined. The study findings indicate that the extract was relatively safe with LD₅₀ above 5000 mg/kg. Treatment with Acanthospermum hispidum extract resulted in a significant (P<0.05) reduction in FBG as well as a significant improvement in oral glucose tolerance at all doses. A significant elevation in the hepatic content of glycogen was also observed at the highest dose (700 mg/kg). Results from this study have demonstrated the potent antidiabetic activity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Acanthospermum hispidum, thus justifying the traditional claim.

Keywords:  Acanthospermum, phytochemicals, antidiabetic, LD₅₀, aqueous extract