title: Hypoglycaemic activity of Nauclea latifolia Sm. (Rubiaceae) in experimental animals.
abstract: Aqueous, ethanolic and hexane extracts of the leaves of Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) were assessed for their fasting blood glucose lowering effect in normoglycaemic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Wistar strain albino rats were given different doses of the extracts after 18 hrs fast and their blood glucose measured at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours after treatment. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose levels of the STZ-diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose administered (400 mg/kg) lowered the fasting blood glucose of the diabetic rats by 31.7% (aqueous) and 36.1% (ethanolic) extracts. The aqueous extract did not significantly lower the glucose levels of normoglycaemic rats (maximum 6.6%), nor was any significant decrease seen in the rats administered with the hexane (maximum of 4.0% for normoglycaemic and 2.4% for diabetics) extract. The hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic potentials of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts were comparable to that of glibenclamide (1 mg/kg).These results further support the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. gidabubakar2003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abubakar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gidado
authors.forename: Danladi A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ameh
authors.forename: Sunday E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Atawodi
authors.forename: Sani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibrahim