PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENT, ACUTE TOXICITY AND HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIAL OF DICHROSTACHYS CINEREA METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem worldwide, herbal derivatives have proved to be more efficient in the treatment of diabetes over synthetic drugs because of less side effects and adverse effects. The aim of this article is to investigate the phytochemical constituent, acute toxicity and hypoglycemic potential of Dichrostachys cinerea methanol leaf extract. Standard laboratory protocols were employed for phytochemical assay, fixed dose method was used to determine acute toxicity (LD₅₀). Alloxan was used to induce diabetes to experimental animals and fasting blood levels were recorded weekly using glucometer. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of numerous phytoconstituents. The result for acute toxicity of D. cinerea methanol leaf extract (DCME) showed that the LD₅₀ is above 5000mg/kg. The body weight showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) difference in untreated control, standard control, DCME100mg/kg, DCME200mg/kg, DCME 400mg/kg and normal control initially. At week 1, 2 and 3, only group treated with standard drug and extract significantly (P<0.05) increases compared to both normal and untreated control. Before
extract and standard drug administration (week 0), the fasting blood sugar of all the alloxan diabetes induced groups (i.e group 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) significantly (P<0.05) increased compared to normal control group. After week 1, 2 and 3 of treatment there was no significant (P>0.05) difference between, extract treated groups compared to standard control. The present study revealed that D. cinerea methanol leaf extract contain numerous phytochemicals and the extract is practically not toxic at acute dose, and with strong glucose lowering potentials.