Antidiabetic activities of ethanolic extract and fraction of Anthocleista djalonensis

Objective:To evaluate the antidiabetic activities of ethanolic root extract/fraction of Anthocleista djalonensis(A. djalonensis) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Methods: A. djalonensisroot extract/fractions(37-111 mg/kg) were administered to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 14 days and blood glucose levels(BGLs) of the diabetic rats were monitored at intervals of hours and days throughout the duration of the treatment.Results:Treatment of alloxan-induced diabetic rats with the extract/fractions caused a significant(P<0.001) reduction in fasting BGLs of the diabetic rats both in acute study and prolonged treatment(2 weeks). The activities of the extract and fractions were more than that of the reference drug, glibenclam ide.Conclusions:These results suggest that the root extract/fractions of A. djalonensispossess antidiabetic effect on alloxan-induced diabetic rats and this justifies its use in ethnomedicine and can be exploited in the management of diabetes.

Effect of Anthocleista djalonensis A. Chev Root Extract on Testis of Matured Rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of different extracts of Anthocleista djalonensis on the testis and epididymal sperms of rats.Methods:Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups(n=5 in each group)and orally treated with 50,100 and 200 mg/kg body weight each of methanol,aqueous ethanol(H-EtOH)and chloroform extracts of A.djalonensis.Corn oil was used as vehicle(2 mL/kg).After 60 days of treatment,testosterone(T)and cholesterol(CHOL)concentrations,catalase(CAT),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(3β-HSD)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activities in the testes along with myeloperoxidase(MPO)activities and nitrite concentrations(NO)in the serum and testes as well as sperm quality were measured.Results:T and CHOL concentrations along with 3β-HSD activity were significantly higher in the animals treated with the low dose than in those treated with the high dose of the chloroform extract(P<0.05).Furthermore,the chloroform extract was more effective than the methanol extract that had the most marginal effect on T level at the high dose and the H-Et OH extract that was only effective at the medium dose.LDH activity was dose-dependently increased by the extracts in all groups.The CAT-SOD antioxidant system was increased in the treated animals at all doses compared to the control values,but the increase in glutathione level reached significant level in those treated with the low dose H-Et OH aqueous ethanol extract(P<0.05).Only the high dose of chloroform extract had significant inhibitory effects on MPO activity(P<0.05).Serum NO concentration was decreased at all doses of the extracts.The inhibitory effects of the extracts on testicular NO concentrations follow this order,chloroform extract>H-Et OH>methanol.Although all extracts at all doses showed excellent stimulatory effects on sperm quality(count,motility and morphology),the methanol extract at the high dose was the most effective on sperm count(P<0.05).Conclusion:The chloroform extract of A.djalonensis has better androgen-like and anti-inflammatory effects whereas the methanol extract has the best effect on sperm count.