Anti-diabetic effect of ethanol leaf extract of <i>Combretum micranthum</i> blood glucose and oxidative stress biomarkers on alloxan induced diabetic in wistar rats

Abstract

This research was aimed to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of ethanol leaf extract of Combretum micranthum on blood glucose levels and oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondaldehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase on alloxan induced Diab tes in Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced using alloxan (150 mg/kg i.p). The rats were grouped into five groups of five rats each. Group 1 served as the diabetic control, Group 2 received 2 mg/kg glibenclamide, while Groups 3, 4 and 5 were orally administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of ethanol leaf extract of Combretum micranthum for a period of 4 weeks, respectively. Blood were collected from the tail artery and the serum was used to determine the oxidative stress biomarkers (malondaldehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase).There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the blood glucose when compared with the diabetic control. Also there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the oxidative stress biomarkers when compared with the diabetic control. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the of the extracts revealed the presence of tannins flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids ,terpenoids and resins. The LD₅₀ was greater than 5000 mg/kg orally. In conclusion Combretum micranthum reduce blood glucose levels, reactive oxygen free radicals and improved the activities of the antioxidant enzymes.

Keywords: Diabetic, Combretum micranthum, Blood glucose, Oxidative stress, Phytochemicals