Hypoglycemic Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Leptadenia hastata on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Albino Rats

Single intra-peritoneal injection of 60 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin is known to induce diabetes mellitus and subsequently damage to the liver due to its hepato-toxic nature. The present study investigated the hypoglycemic and curative effects of Leptadenia hastata plant extracts conducted on 35 healthy male albino rats. The rats with blood glucose level above 200 mg/dl were randomly divided into seven (7) experimental groups of five rats each. Oral administration of 150 mg/kg body weight, 300 mg/kg body weight aqueous extract and 150 mg/kg body weight, 300 mg/kg body weight ethanolic extract were given to the diabetic rats for the period of 21 days. The fasting blood glucose was monitored at 7 days interval while markers of liver and kidney function were assayed at the end of 21 days treatment. The results revealed that oral administration of 300 mg/kg body weight ethanolic extract was found to be significant p