Antihyperglycaemic Effect of Methanol Leaf Extract of Alchornea laxiflora (Benth) Pax and Hoffman in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The administration of the methanol leaf extract of Alchornea laxiflora (Benth) Pax and Hoffman regulates blood sugar levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. A. laxiflora therapy also caused significant reductions in hitherto raised levels of plasma cholesterol, urea and creatinine and reversed the decreases in concentration of plasma total protein and albumin following alloxan injection (p<0.05). The significant increases in activity (p<0.05) elicited in plasma liver enzymes studied: aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, in the diabetic rats were gradually restored to normal values (p<0.05). No significant changes (p>0.05) were observed in the normal rats administered with the extract. Thus A. laxiflora is an antihyperglycaemic agent and not hypoglycaemic and appears to correct the metabolic derangements indicative of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Alchornea laxiflora (Benth) Pax and Hoffman, antihyperglycaemic, diabetic rats, methanol, leaf, extract.