Phytochemical Composition and Biochemical Studies of the Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Brillantaisia guianensis P. beauv on Alloxan Treated Wistar Albino Rats

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out on the phytochemical composition and biochemical studies oftheleafextract ofBrillantaisia guinensis peuvon alloxan treated Wistar albinorats.The experimental rats were administered with 80mg/kgbodyweight of alloxan,viathetailvein.After five days treatment with alloxan, thetreatment with the extractscommenced. Extracts wereadministeredorallyat100,200and 300mg/kg bw(both tonormal andtreated rats) for twenty-one days.Metformin,which served as a standard drug was administered at50mg/kg. Chromatographicanalysisof thephytochemical content of the leaf extract, revealed the presence of flavonoids (30.7mg/100g), saponins(50.6mg/100g), phytosterol (6.22mg/100g), tannins (7.50mg/100g) and glycosides(29.3mg/100g). Comparedtotest and normalcontrol,the extractsdose-dependentlyand significantlylowered(P<0.05) plasmaglucose and triglycerides, during the experimental period. Thisstudy revealedthe presence of pharma cologically bioactive compounds inthelea fextract and showed that the leaf extract had a dose-dependent hypoglycemic and hypotriglyceridemic effect on the Wistaralbino rats. The findings suggest a likely protective role of the extracts against hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia thereby useful in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus, obesity and other related cardiovascular diseases.