Abstract

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF Napoleonae imperialis IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS

Mba O. J.*, Omodamiro O. D., Okafor P. N. and Maduagwu E. N.

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of methanol leaf extract of Napoleonae imperialis in streptozotocin induced diabetic albino rats. Forty two (42) male albino rats of mean weight 140 g were used for the study. The animals were grouped into seven (7) groups of six (6) rats each. Group 1 is the normal control that received only feed and water. Group 2 is the diabetic untreated group. Group 3 is drug control group. Groups 4, 5 and 6 were the test groups that were orally given 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the methanol leaf extract, group 7 is the group that received the extract only (500 mg/kg b.wt). Treatment lasted for 28 days, after which the animals were sacrificed under mild anesthesia. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. The result from the study showed that there was statistically significant (p< 0.05) decrease in the fasting blood glucose concentration of the rats in the test groups, when compared with the diabetic untreated group. The result also showed that there was statistically significant (p> 0.05) decrease in the concentration of ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin and albumin in the treated groups, when compared with the diabetic untreated group. The results of this study indicate that methanol leaf extract of Napoleonae imperialis possesses antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects in albino rats, and thus could be utilized pharmacologically in the management and treatment of diabetes and organ toxicity.

Keywords: Napoleonae imperialis; streptozotocin; glibenclamide; antidiabetic; hepatoprotective effects.