Protective effect of methanol-methylene chloride extract of Terminalia glaucescens leaves on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice
Abstract
Purpose: Terminalia glaucescens (Combretaceae) is traditionally used in Cameroon in the treatment of diabetes. The anti-hyperglycemic effect of the methanol-methylene chloride extract of the leaves of this plant was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Methods: Diabetes was induced in mice by a daily dose of STZ (45 mg kg-1 body weight i.p.) for 5 days. From one day before STZ injection, normal and diabetic-test mice received one oral dose of the extract (100 mg kg-1 or 300 mg kg-1 body weight) daily for 15 days. The effect of the extract on body weight gain, food and water intake, plasma metabolites (glucose and lipids) and insulin levels was investigated. Results: Diabetic control mice and diabetic mice pre-treated with 100 mg kg-1 extract showed body weight loss, marked (P< 0.001) polyphagia and polydipsia, high plasma metabolites and glucose (P< 0.001), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) (P< 0.05), triglycerides (TG) (P< 0.05), and cholesterol (P< 0.05) and low insulin (P< 0.001) levels. Normal control, i.e., normal treated mice and 300 mg kg-1 extract pre-treated diabetic mice, presented normal weight gain, normal food and water intake, normal plasma metabolites and insulin levels, and did not exhibit very significant changes (P<0.1) in blood glucose level. Conclusion: These results indicate that the extract of T. glaucescens leaf at a dose of 300 mg kg-1 protects against STZ-induced diabetic effects and could explain the traditional use of this plant in the management of diabetes.
Keywords: Terminalia glaucescens, streptozotocin, diabetes mellitus, glycemia, lipemia
Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 8 (1) 2009: pp. 19-26
Submission of a manuscript to this journal is a representation that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All authors named in each manuscript would be required to sign a form (to be supplied by the Editor) so that they may retain their copyright in the article but to assign to us (the Publishers) and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats and media (whether known or created in the future) to (i) publish, reproduce, distribute, display and store the contribution, (ii) translate the contribution into other languages, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections and create summaries, extracts and/or abstracts of the contribution, (iii) create any other derivative works(s) based on the contribution, (iv) to exploit all subsidiary rights in the contribution, (v) the inclusion of electronic links from the contribution to third party material where-ever it may be located, and (vi) license any thrid party to do any or all of the above.