title: Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects ofCroton lobatusL. in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Croton lobatuscontains a high amount of antioxidant phytochemicals that probably account for its wide use as food and medicine in the traditional communities of West Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study evaluated the modulatory role of methanol extract of Croton lobatus leaf on alloxan-induced diabetes and associated cardiovascular complications. Male rats were randomly selected and assigned to one of six groups (A to F) of eight animals each: A (distilled water); B (corn oil); C (Alloxan); D (Alloxan + 100 mg kg-1 Croton lobatus); E: (Alloxan + 200 mg kg-1 C. lobatus); and F (Alloxan + 100 mg kg-1 glibenclamide).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute toxicity studies revealed no mortality of rats at the administration of different doses of extract up to the 5,000 mg kg-1 dose. Histology of the pancreas showed focal area of necrosis, and fatty infiltration in diabetic untreated rats, but these lesions were absent in pancreas of rats treated withC. lobatusextract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methanol leaf extract ofC. lobatusreduced arteriogenic risk factors, improved antioxidant status, restored the observable pathological lesions associated with experimental diabetes in rats, and thus offers a new therapeutic window as herbal therapy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Taiye Remi
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Fasola
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Blessing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ukwenya
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ademola Adetokunbo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Oyagbemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Temidayo Olutayo
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Omobowale
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Temitayo Olabisi
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Ajibade
keywords: Blood pressure; diabetes; electrocardiogram; oxidative stress