Abstract

POTENTIAL ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF THE FRUIT EXTRACT OF HARUNGANA MADAGASCARIENSIS LAM. EX POIRET

Olusayo Aderonke Shorinwa* and Chidiebube Chidinma Njoku

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the hypoglycemic effect of the ethanol extract of Harungana madagascariensis fruit on alloxan induced diabetic rats. Following preliminary phytochemical screening of the ethanol fruit extract, an acute toxicity evaluation of the plant extract was carried out. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 160mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate and animals with blood glucose level greater than 200mg/dl were used for the antidiabetic activity evaluation. These were divided into six groups of five rats each. Group A animals were administered deionized water, groups B, C, and D were treated with 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg of the extract, respectively, while group E were treated with glibenclamide and group F were left untreated. All drugs were administered orally via an orogastric tube for three weeks. Blood glucose level was determined on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 using glucose test strip method. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinone, tannins, saponins, flavonoid and terpenoids. The extract at 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg induced a statistically significant (P<0.05) reduction in blood glucose level on day 14 when compared to the diabetic untreated group. This study suggests that the fruit extract of Harungana madagascariensis possess a significant anti-diabetic activity.

Keywords: Harungana madagascariensis, Antidiabetic, Ethanol, Fruit, Alloxan.