Background:Hippocratea velutina(HV)is a novel plant folklorically used for lowering blood glucose,hence a potential source of new antidiabetic medication.Objective:The study evaluated the anti-diabetic potentials of t...Background:Hippocratea velutina(HV)is a novel plant folklorically used for lowering blood glucose,hence a potential source of new antidiabetic medication.Objective:The study evaluated the anti-diabetic potentials of the methanol extract of Hippocratea velutina leaf and its toxicity profile in mice and rats.Methods:Acute and subacute toxicity tests of the plant extract were carried out by using a modified OECD guideline.Its antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at 50,150,and 300 mg/kg for 28 days was assayed,while glibenclamide(5 mg/kg)and distilled water were the positive and negative controls,respectively.Histopathological examination of vital organs was also carried out.Results:Preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaf extract showed the presence of tannins,flavonoids,saponins,alkaloids,terpenoids,deoxy-sugars,and anthraquinones in HV.The extract had LD 50 greater than 2000 mg/kg in mice.It had no toxic effects on the haematological and biochemical components from blood samples collected but caused significant blood glucose level reduction in normal rats at 150 and 300 mg/kg.In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats,the extract elicited a non-dose-dependent antidiabetic effect on day seven at all the tested doses,significantly higher than glibenclamide(10 mg/kg).However,on days 14,21,and 28,the extract activity at all the tested doses and glibenclamide were comparable.The extract did not affect the liver,brain,kidney,and pancreas histology at 200 mg/kg but caused slight and severe effects on these organs at 400 and 800 mg/kg,respectively.Conclusion:The study concluded that Hippocratea velutina possessed antihyperglycaemic activity and was non-toxic at low doses but could have deleterious effects to the liver and kidney at high concentrations.展开更多
文摘Background:Hippocratea velutina(HV)is a novel plant folklorically used for lowering blood glucose,hence a potential source of new antidiabetic medication.Objective:The study evaluated the anti-diabetic potentials of the methanol extract of Hippocratea velutina leaf and its toxicity profile in mice and rats.Methods:Acute and subacute toxicity tests of the plant extract were carried out by using a modified OECD guideline.Its antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at 50,150,and 300 mg/kg for 28 days was assayed,while glibenclamide(5 mg/kg)and distilled water were the positive and negative controls,respectively.Histopathological examination of vital organs was also carried out.Results:Preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaf extract showed the presence of tannins,flavonoids,saponins,alkaloids,terpenoids,deoxy-sugars,and anthraquinones in HV.The extract had LD 50 greater than 2000 mg/kg in mice.It had no toxic effects on the haematological and biochemical components from blood samples collected but caused significant blood glucose level reduction in normal rats at 150 and 300 mg/kg.In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats,the extract elicited a non-dose-dependent antidiabetic effect on day seven at all the tested doses,significantly higher than glibenclamide(10 mg/kg).However,on days 14,21,and 28,the extract activity at all the tested doses and glibenclamide were comparable.The extract did not affect the liver,brain,kidney,and pancreas histology at 200 mg/kg but caused slight and severe effects on these organs at 400 and 800 mg/kg,respectively.Conclusion:The study concluded that Hippocratea velutina possessed antihyperglycaemic activity and was non-toxic at low doses but could have deleterious effects to the liver and kidney at high concentrations.
