Methanolic extract of Calotropis procera flower has antihyperglycemic effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic wister rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a condition characterized by hyperglycemia as a result of impairment in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. It causes long-term damage and failure of various organ systems (heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves), leading to disability and premature death. The available conventional drugs have not been doing enough in its management. Moreover, the side effects that some of these drugs present are of great health concern. Therefore, searching for alternative drugs is necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic effect of methanol extract of the flower of Calotropis procera in wister rats induced with diabetes using streptozotocin (STZ). The extract was first assayed for the presence of phytochemicals using standard methods. Oral glucose tolerance test was then performed using 2 mg/kg body weight of glucose at various time interval (0, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes) after glucose load. The positive control groups were treated for four weeks, and were compared with the normal and negative control group. The Results showed that the methanol extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides and phenols. The level of the fasting blood glucose was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) lowered by the 200 and 400 mg/kg extract doses after two weeks of administration. This study ascertained that the assayed Calotropis procera flower had antihyperglycemic effect, and suggests further exploration of the plant as an antihyperglycemic agent.