Abstract

The anti-diabetic effect of methanol extract of stem bark of Ceiba pentandra and its beneficial/ toxicological effect on hematological parameters in normal and alloxan-induced-diabetic rats were studied. The acute toxicity (LD_50­) test and phytochemical analysis were also carried studied. The diabetic rats were divided into five groups of 5 animals each given oral administration of the extract daily for 14 days. The antidiabetic study was carried out using 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of C. pentandra extract. The methanol extract of C. pentandra significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the blood glucose level in diabetic and norm glycemic rats in comparison with glibenclamide (standard drug). The effect of C. pentandra at 800 mg/kg (33.6%) was more effective compared to glibenclamide (23.0%) in lowering blood glucose with the added benefit of restoring reduced hematological parameters in diabetic rats to near normal level in norm glycemic rats. The acute toxicity (LD_50­) test of the methanol extract was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. This showed the extract is relatively safe. The plant is also rich in flavonoids, saponins, resins, terpenoids, glycosides, and tannins. The result of this study shows that C. pentandra does possess anti-diabetic activity, beneficial effect and hence can ameliorate hyperglycemia and anemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats establishing its potential as a source for isolation of new oral antihyperglycaemic agents.

Key words: Ceiba pentandra, hyperglycemia, hematology, diabetes.