Abstract

This study investigated the anti-hyperglycaemic and antioxidative properties of Calotropis procera (Tumfafiya) leaf extract on an alloxan induced diabetic rats. The rats were fed on commercial diet and grouped into 4. Group1 as diabetic treated with leave extract (DTL), group 2 diabetic on normal diet (DNT), group 3 as non diabetic on normal diet (NDNT) and group 4 as diabetic treated with chlorpropamide (DCP). The successful diabetic induction was achieved by intra-peritoneal injection of 180 mg/kg body weight with alloxan. The sustenance and severity of diabetes was assessed using fasting blood glucose for one week. The plant extract was then administered to the induced rats at 100 mg/kg body for four weeks after which a serum glucose level was assessed at weakly intervals. Malondialdehyde was also measured for anti-oxidative effect. The results indicated that the extracts possessed significant hypoglycemic effect on the DTL group, with mean glucose of 5.9 ± 0.2 mmol/L compared to the DNT control group with a mean glucose of 15.5 ± 0.2 mmol/L (p < 0.05). A raised malondialdehyde was also observed among the DNT (23.2 ± 3.5) as against DTL group (12.5 ± 0.5) mmol/L, (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it shows that Calotropis procera methanolic leaf extract have a potential hypoglycemic effect in alloxan induced diabetic rats and also with antioxidant property.

Key words: Colotropis procera, anti-hyperglycaemic agent, antioxidant, alloxan, diabetes mellitus, chlopropamide.