Antidiabetic Activity of Pawpaw Leaf Extract: Chemical Composition and Biokinetic Modeling

The hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of dry pawpaw leaf was investigated using albino rats weighing between 141.7-257.0g. The extract tested positive for the presence of saponin glycosides, condensed tannins, alkaloids, and cardiac glycosides containing rhamnose, cymarose, and digitose sugars. Diabetic condition was induced in the rats by injecting 20mg of alloxan per 100g of body weight. The Diabetic condition was considered to have developed on the third day. Treatment of the alloxanised rats with dry pawpaw leaf extract brought down the fasting blood glucose level to 56.13%, indicating that the aqueous extract contain hypoglycemic agent. And it was predicted using a fitted linear model that within 5 days of treatment the blood sugar will return to normal. A strong relationship was noted to exist between blood sugar, and time of administration of the aqueous extract of dry pawpaw leaves. A linear model is the best fit for blood sugar and time of administration. The biokinetic model developed, explains 98.7339% of the variability in blood sugar of treated diabetic rats.