Antihyperglycaemic and Antihyperproteinaemic Activity of Extracts of Picralima nitida Seed and Tapinanthus bangwensis Leaf on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rabbits

Coconut water extract of Picralima nitida seed and aqueous extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaf were investigated for their antidiabetic activities on some biochemical parameters (glucose, protein) associated with diabetes in both the serum and tissues of experimental animals using alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits as model. The rabbits were fasted overnight before they were given a single intraperitoneal injection of aqueous alloxan monohydrate (Sigma, USA) at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight to make them diabetic. The experimental rabbits (chinchilla) were grouped into six and extracts administered orally, once daily for five weeks. Groups 1 and 2 (non-diabetic) received only distilled water and coconut water respectively, group 3 (diabetic) received 200 mg/kg body weight aqueous extract of T. bangwensis leaf, group 4 received 400 mg/kg body weight of coconut water extract of P. nitida seed, groups 5 and 6 (diabetic) received only distilled water and coconut water respectively. The results revealed that the extracts independently lowered significantly (pandlt;0.05) the blood glucose and protein levels of the diabetic rabbits. Both extracts significantly (pandlt;0.05) increased the tissue protein. Overall, aqueous extract of T. bangwensis leaf and coconut water extract of P. nitida seed independently possesses insulin-like properties as demonstrated by their antidiabetic actions, hence, may be good herbal extracts in the management of diabetes.