Effect of methanolic extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera(Schum and Thonn)Taub leaves on hyperglycemia and indices of diabetic complications in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To investigate the ameliorative role of Tetrapleura tetraplera(Schum and Thonn)Taub(T.tetraplera)leaf in hyperglycemia with associated conditions like oxidative stress,kidney damage and disorders in lipid metabolism.Methods:Five groups of five rats each intraperitoneally received the following treatment schedules for 7 d:untreated normal control,untreated alloxan-diabetic control,diabetic treated with glibenclamide,normal rats treated with extract(50 mg/kg)and diabetic rats treated with the extract.Evaluations were made for fasting blood sugar,body weight changes,malondialdehyde,aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,bilirubin,superoxide dismutase,catalase,lipid profile,packed cell volume,hemoglobin,urea and creatinine in all the rats.Results:Whereas the untreated diabetic rats showed a significant decrease(P<0.05)in packed cell volume,superoxide dismutase,catalase and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol with a concomitant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde,fasting blood sugar,aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,bilirubin,urea and creatinine,administration of methanolic extract of T.tetraplera leaf or glibenclamide alleviated these altered parameters in the treated rats.Conclusions:Methanolic extract of T.tetraplera leaves possesses a potent capacity for treatment of diabetes and the accompanying complications,including oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia.