In vivo hypoglycemic activity and toxicity of five selected medicinal plants traditionally used to lyianage diabetes mellitus in Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2015-10
Authors
Ahmed, Abdirahman Yusuf
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder with increasing rates of incidence and
mortality. Antidiabetic drugs are either expensive or unavailable or they have side
effects which can lead to other complication to the patients. Kleinia squarrosa,
Acacia nilotica, Zanha Africana, Aloe secundiflora, and Fuerstia Africana have
been used traditionally to manage several diseases including diabetes, however,
their efficacy and toxicity is not well evaluated. The aim of this study was to
determine the in vivo hypoglycemic activity and toxicity of aqueous extracts of
these plants in male swiss white albino mice. Hypoglycemic activity was screened
in alloxan induced diabetic mice using oral and intraperitoneal routes. The
toxicity of these aqueous extracts was studied in mice that were orally and
intraperitoneally administered with 191kg body weight daily for 28 days by
recording changes in body and organ weights, hematological and biochemical
parameters and histology. Composition of trace elements in the plant extracts
were estimated using total reflection X-ray fluorescence system and atomic
absorption spectrometry. Phytochemical analysis was assessed using standard
procedures. Stem bark extract of K. squarrosa, A. nilotica, and A. secundiflora,
and leaf extracts of Z. africana administered at 50, 100, 200, 300 mglkg body
weight showed hypoglycemic activity with the intraperitoneal route being more
effective than the oral route except for A. secundiflora. Oral administration 1glkg
body weight of the stem bark extract of K. squarrosa and leaf extract of Z.
africana and intraperitoneal administration of all plant extracts significantly
reduced the body weight gain. Orally, the same dose of K. squarrosa reduced the
percent organ to body weight of the liver. The intraperitoneal administration of
some extracts increased the percent organ to body weight of the liver, brain,
kidneys and lungs while that of the testis was reduced by others. Oral or
intraperitoneal administration of the same dose of each the studied plant extracts
significantly affected on or more of measured hematological parameters. Oral and
intraperitoneal administration of the same dose of the aqueous plant extracts
significantly altered the biochemical parameters. Intraperitoneal administration of
the same dose of K. squarrosa to mice caused significant lesions to the kidney,
liver and spleen. All the five aqueous plants extracts studied contained tannins,
total phenols, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids at varying levels. Sodium,
Chlorine, Potassium, Calcium, Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese,
Iron, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic and Cadmium were present in all the five plant
extracts at levels below the recommended daily allowance. Magnesium, Nickel
and Lead were present in four plant extracts. The observed hypoglycemic activity
could be associated with phytochemicals and mineral elements present in the
aqueous extracts of the studied plants. Toxic effects of the studied plants at a dose
of 1glkg body weight may be due to their phytochemical components together
with the presence of heavy metals like arsenic, lead and cadmium in the plants
extracts. This study recommends continued use of these plants as herbal medicine
except Kleinia squarrosa which was strongly toxic at 1 g/kg body weight.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Masters of Science (Medical Biochemistry) in the School of Pure and Applied Science of Kenyatta University. October, 2015