African Journal of
Biochemistry Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biochem. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0778
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJBR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 424

Full Length Research Paper

Collaborative effects of some anti-diabetic plants on the liver marker enzymes of diabetic rats

GOMETI Ajiroghene S
  • GOMETI Ajiroghene S
  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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OGUGUA Victor N
  • OGUGUA Victor N
  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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ODO Christian E
  • ODO Christian E
  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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JOSHUA Parker E
  • JOSHUA Parker E
  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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OBI Kelechi N
  • OBI Kelechi N
  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
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  •  Accepted: 19 December 2013
  •  Published: 31 January 2014

Abstract

The leaves of Psidium guajava, Anacardium occidentale, Eucalyptus globulus and fruits of Xylopia aethiopica are used in the management of diabetes mellitus. The phytochemical constituents as well as the acute toxicity of the combined chloroform extracts (A. occidentale + E. globulus and P. guajava + X. aethiopica) and their effects (at graded doses of 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight each) on the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were therefore, assayed in diabetic and normal rats using standard methods. The phytochemical analyses of the four extracts showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids and fats and oil in all of them. Each of the combined extract was found to be non-toxic even at a dose as high as 5000 mg/kg body weight. The combined extracts at the tested doses significantly (p<0.05) and dose-dependently decreased the activities of ALT, AST and ALP. The effects of the combined extracts (especially 250 mg/kg body weight of P. guajava + X. aethiopica) were better than that of the standard anti-diabetic drug [glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight)]. The results generally indicate that the combined chloroform extracts of the leaves of A. occidentale, E. globulus, P. guajava and fruits of X. aethiopica might be adopted for the management and/or amelioration of diabetes mellitus and its accompanying complications.

Key words: Psidium guajava, Anacardium occidentale, Eucalyptus globules, Xylopia aethiopica, chloroform extracts.