ABSTRACT
Aims:The study examines effect of aqueous-fraction of ethanolic extractof Balanites aegyptiacastem-bark on enzymes of glucose metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats in a bid to ascertain its anti-hyperglycemic and possible mechanism of action.Methodology:Diabetes was induced in male rats by intra-peritoneal injection of 60 mg/kg body weight of STZ. Dried powdered Balanitesaegyptiacastem-bark was defatted with hexane and extracted using ethanol followed by solvent-solvent fractionation with water and ethyl acetate. The aqueous fraction (ASF) obtained was subjected to acute toxicity on wistar rats using a gradient dosage, where 1/10thof lethal dose was calculated and used for the study. It was orally administered at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight of diabetic rats, metformin (200 mg/kg body wt) serve as reference drug and diabetic/normal untreated rats received 10 % dimethyl sulfurdioxide for the 28 days treatment period. On day 29th, rats were sacrificed; blood and liver samples were collected. Liver tissues were homogenized, centrifuged and the supernatants were used for assay of glucose metabolic enzymes while serum was used for biochemical markers estimations.Results:Results obtained showed no death or lethal effect in the acute toxicity study up to a dose of 4000 mg/kg body wt. Therefore, the LD50value was considered to be more than 4000 mg/kg body wt.Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with ASF showed a significant (P<0.05) reversal effect in activities of the glucose metabolic enzymes assayed compare to untreated diabetic rats. Glucokinase activity was enhanced (2.98±2.23U/min/mg Protein) against untreated diabetic (2.22±0.02 U/min/mg Protein) as well as glycogen synthase (12.48±0.11x10-2U/min/mg Protein) against untreated diabetic (9.41±0.34x10-2U/min/mg Protein. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was suppressed in the diabetic rats received ASF (0.26±0.03 U/min/mg Protein) compare to the untreated diabetic (1.44±0.05 U/min/mg Protein). Glycogen content of the treated diabetic ratswas elevated to 13.77±0.32 mg/g liver against the diabetic untreated rats (10.69±0.32 mg/g liver).A significant reduction in fasting blood glucose was recorded from the ASF treated diabetic rats (290.4±18.4mg/dL) compared to diabetic untreated rats (336.0±11.9mg/dL). Conclusion: The study suggested that Balanites aegyptiacastem-bark may contained compound(s) that has the capacity to reverse the activity of glucose metabolic enzymes to exert antihyperglycemic activity.
ABSTRACT
The effects of various extracts of Ocimum basilicum leaf on biochemical indices of organ damage and oxidative stress status of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were examined. Oral administration of 200mg/kg of aqueous, methanolic and petroleum ether extracts of the leaf for 35 days resulted in a significant (P<0.05) reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and an increase in catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats from diabetic levels. The leaf extracts brought about a significant (P>0.05) increase in serum protein and albumin as well as decreases in urea and creatinine levels of STZ – induced diabetic rats compared with diabetic control levels. The Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels increased significantly (P>0.05) in diabetic control group. The extracts caused a significant reduction in levels of AST and ALT in treated diabetic groups and maintained the normal level observed in normal rats. In this study a significant decrease in PCV was observed in diabetic control group and increase in the PCV in rats given extracts. It was concluded that the extracts have in vivo antioxidant, hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects in STZ – induced diabetic rats. These results support its traditional use in the management of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
ABSTRACT
Abstract. The effects of daily intraperitoneal doses of 1000 i.u/kg body weight of vitamin E on the course of Plasmodium berghei NK 65 infection and the parasite-induced anemia as well as alterations in the relative weight of some selected organs and antioxidant status in mice were investigated. The number of parasitized red cells were not initially affected by the vitamin administration but were persistently lowered after 11th day post infection to the termination of the experiment. The P. berghei infection was found to induce anemia, significantly (P<0.05) increased the relative weight of liver, spleen and kidney but significantly decreased (P<0.05) the relative brain weight. However, all the parasite-induced changes in these parameters were significantly (P<0.05) ameliorated by the vitamin administration. Furthermore, malonydialdehyde concentration in the serum, liver and brain of infected animals was significantly (P<0.05) increased whereas superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly (P<0.05) decreased by the infection. But vitamin E administration was found to, a significant degree (P<0.05), reversed the disease-induced alterations in these oxidative stress markers. It was concluded that vitamin E at the dose and route used prevented P. berghei induced anemia as well as alterations in relative organ weight and antioxidant status in mice