Ameliorative Potentials of Methanol and Ethyl Acetate Fractions of Peristophe Bicalyculata on Streptozotocine -Induced Diabetic Rats

Objective: The study investigated the ameliorative potentials of the ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of P. bicalyculata leaf extract on experimental rat models. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 albino Wistar rats were used for the study. They were randomly divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1, the standard control, received 250mg/kg body weight (b.wt) of the anti-diabetic drug, Metformin, group 2 and 3 received 200 and 400mg/kg b.wt respectively of the methanol fraction of P. bicalyculata, (group 4 and 5 received 200 and 400mg/kg b.wt of the ethyl acetate fraction of P. bicalyculata respectively while groups6 and 7 were the diabetic control (DC) and normal control (NC) groups, respectively. Results: There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the serum levels of total cholesterol, TG, LDL, VLDL, and increased level of HDL cholesterol in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic treated groups. The study also showed that there was a significant reduction in the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of the entire STZ induced diabetic rats treated with ethyl acetate and methanol extract of P. bicalyculata at 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg b.wt respectively. Also, the glycated haemoglobin and estimated average glucose concentrations showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the low and high doses of P. bicalyculata extract-treated groups compared to the DC. There was no significant (p>0.05) differences in the sex hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone levels of rats in the treatment groups when compared to the NC group. Conclusion: The results obtained in the present study provide the scientific rationale for the use of P. bicalyculata as an anti- diabetic agent in the management of diabetes