title: Morphological changes in the pancreas and glucose reduction of the aqueous extract of Costus afer leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities of herbs, this study has evaluated the morphological changes, hypoglycemic effect, and comparative ameliorating effects of Costus afer Ker Gawl leaf and glibenclamide on pancreatic injury induced by alloxan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty adult male albino rats that were divided into six groups of five weight-matched animals each were used in the study. Groups 1 and 2 served as controls, whereas groups 3-6 were alloxan-induced diabetic groups treated with different doses of the extract (375, 750, and 1125 mg/kg C. afer) and glibenclamide, respectively. The glucose level was measured daily, whereas the weight of the animal was monitored on a weekly basis for 21 days. The oral glucose tolerance test was measured on overnight fasted rats after glucose load at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. The histopathology of the pancreas was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phytoconstituents of C. afer Ker Gawl leaves include glycosides, tannins, saponins, terpenoid, phenolic compound, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Costus afer possessed significant hypoglycemic (p<0.05) effect and reversed the histopathologic damage of pancreases in alloxan-induced diabetic rats comparable to those of glibenclamide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Costus afer leaves possess both antidiabetic and tissue protective properties on pancreases of investigated rats.
authors.forename: Anthoneth Ndidi
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ezejiofor
authors.forename: Chinna Nneka
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Orish
authors.forename: Orish Ebere
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Orisakwe
mesh_terms: D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D029770:Costus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000496:Alloxan; D005905:Glyburide