ABSTRACT
The plant, Asparagus africanus is used for treating diabetes mellitus and other diseases in traditional medicine. This research work was aimed at determining the antidiabetic and antioxidant effect of Asparagus africanus root aqueous extract in Wistar rats induced with diabetes using streptozotocin. Oral administration of 10 g glucose/ kg body weight was used for physiological induction of diabetes and intaperitoneal administration of 60 mg streptozotocin/kg body weight was used for chemical induction of diabetes. The animals were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg Asparagus africanus extract orally. The concentration of glucose in the blood was measured in minutes and days. The concentration of enzymatic antioxidants (catalase and reduced glutathione [GSH]) in the liver tissues and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level was determined. Asparagus africanus root aqueous extract decreased the concentration of blood glucose and increased antioxidant enzymes (catalase and GSH) levels significantly (p < 0.05) in 21 days treated animals when compared to the untreated animals (control). Asparagus africanus extract decreased TBARS concentration significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with the control. A. africanus extract at 400 mg/kg had a higher antidiabetic and antioxidant activities when compared with 100 mg/kg. This research work suggests that Asparagus africanus root posses antidiabetic and antioxidant properties; and it also reduced lipid peroxidation in 21 days treated diabetic rats.