title: Hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus Schumach. & Thonn. (Connaraceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetes Mellitus is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The need for enhanced efficacy and safety, and cheaper and more readily available new drugs has increased the search for new antidiabetic drugs from plants. This study was conducted to investigate the antidiabetic activity of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of B. coccineus in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of B. coccineus extract (100-800 mg · kg(-1), p.o.) on blood glucose levels in normal and glucose loaded rats, and alloxan-induced diabetic rats was determined. After 10 days of treatment, blood samples were collected from rats for lipid and insulin profiling. Animals were thereafter sacrificed and the kidneys, heart, and liver were harvested for antioxidant indices assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal rats, B. coccineus did not cause significant reduction in blood glucose. At the dose of 800 mg · kg(-1), significant increase in blood glucose level was not observed 30 min. after glucose load. B. coccineus administered acutely did not generally produce significant reduction in blood glucose level in diabetic rats. Administered subacutely, the extract significantly reduced blood glucose level in diabetic rats from the 3(rd) day with peak effect observed at the dose of 800 mg · kg(-1) on the 10(th) day. The extract generally preserved in vivo antioxidant levels in the kidneys, heart, and liver, increased the level of high density lipoprotein and insulin, and reduced the level of triglycerides and low density lipoprotein compared to diabetic control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings in this study suggest that the hydroethanolic leaf extract Byrsocarpus coccineus possesses antidiabetic activity possibly mediated through inhibition of intestinal glucose absorption, in vivo antioxidant activity, and enhancement of regeneration of beta cells of the pancreas and insulin secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oluwakemi K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Dada
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria. Electronic address: ajakindele@cmul.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Abidemi J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Akindele
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olufemi A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Morakinyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Margaret O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Sofidiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D031961:Connaraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antioxidant activity; Byrsocarpus coccineus; Connaraceae; Diabetes; Hypoglycemic activity