title: Anti-diabetic activity of methanol/methylene chloride stem bark extracts of Terminalia superba and Canarium schweinfurthii on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: Stem bark extracts of Terminalia superba Engl. and Diels and Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. are used in Africa for the treatment of various ailments, including diabetes mellitus. The anti-diabetic effects of the methanol/methylene chloride extracts of the stem barks on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes were evaluated on male rats. Through the subcutaneous route, diabetes was induced using 60 mg/mL of streptozotocin. After 2 days, the rats received, by gavage, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of extract daily for 14 days. At 300 mg/kg, the two extracts (Terminalia superba and Canarium schweinfurthii), significantly showed at least 67.1% and 69.9% reduction in blood glucose level, respectively, while insulin (three units) given subcutaneously and once daily, had 76.8% reduction compared to diabetic untreated control rats. Similarly, the weight gains were 6.6% and 4.9%, respectively, and were comparable to the normal rats, whereas, diabetic untreated rats lost 14.1% body weight. Still with the same dose, there was 68.5% and 58.5% (p < 0.001) significant decrease in food consumption and 79.7% and 64.0% (p < 0.001) in fluid intake by diabetic rats treated with the respective plant extracts. The insulin-treated rats showed 56.4% and 75.8% decrease in food and fluid intake compared to an augmentation for diabetic control rats, 43.0% and 383.8%, respectively, at the end of the second week of experimentation. These results showed that the plant extracts can reverse hyperglycemia, polyphagia and polydipsia provoked by streptozotocin, and thus, they have anti-diabetic properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. pikam55@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamtchouing
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kahpui
authors.forename: P-D Djomeni
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Dzeufiet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tédong
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Asongalem
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D029403:Burseraceae; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents; D029766:Terminalia
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D000432:Methanol