ANTI-HYPERGLYCAEMIC EFFECT OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Bridelia ferruginea LEAVES ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Aim: To evaluate the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of ethanol extract of Bridelia ferruginea leaves on alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in male albino rats.

Methodology: Extraction of Bridelia ferruginea leaves was done using ethanol. Phytochemical screening, acute toxicity studies, lipid profile determination and anti-diabetic studies were carried out following standard methods. Diabetes was induced in all groups except group 1 (normal control) by administering 120 mg/kg of 1% alloxan monohydrate intraperitoneally. The animals were divided into 6 groups of 5 animals each and treated as follows: Groups 1 and 2 received 0.5 ml/kg of 0.9% normal saline, group 3 received 5 mg/kg of glibenclamide (standard drug), groups 4, 5 and 6 received 100, 200 and 400 (mg/kg) of the extract, respectively.

Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, reducing sugar, carbohydrates, hydrogen cyanide, phenols, and steroids in varying quantities. The acute toxicity study demonstrated that (EEBFL) was safe up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. The extract showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the blood glucose level for the rats treated with graded doses of ethanol extract of Bridelia ferruginea leaves relative to the untreated diabetic control. There was a non-significant difference between group 5 and the standard control. The lipid profile result showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the total cholesterol, LDL and triacylglycerol levels and a significant increase in HDL of the treated groups when compared to untreated diabetic control.

Conclusion: The findings in this study revealed that ethanol extract of Bridelia ferruginea leaves possesses potent anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-hyperlipidemic properties and can serve as herbal remedy in the management of diabetes and its related conditions.