HEPATO-PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF Datura stramonium in ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS.

Abstract

The screening of plants as promising natural sources of medicinal agents against several diseases (both metabolic and infectious) is a well establish phenomenon in the scientific community of researchers. In this study,ethanolleaf extract of Datura stramonium (D. stramonium) was investigated for its anti-diabetic properties in diabetic rat model.A total of 36 albino rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (A-F) with each group containing 6 rats each.Groups A – E were induced withalloxanat 100mg/kg body weight via intra-peritoneal route, while Group F, the control group was not induced.For 14 days, rats in groups A, B and C received ethanolic leaf extract of D. stramonium at 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg, respectively, Group D (standard control) received 5mg/kg glibenclamide (a standard drug), rats in Group E(negative control) were givenonlynormal saline (0.1 mL) and rats in Group F were neither induced nor treated; they were given water and feedAd libitum. Administration of extract and drug was through oral intubations. The result showed that body weight of diabetic rats treated with doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) improved after induction at weeks 1 and 2 when compared to the negative control. There was also significant (P<0.05) reduction in blood glucose in treated groups 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg with respect to negative control in diabetic rats. The reductions in plasma glucose levels weredose-dependent. The mean activity of serum AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin of diabetic rats displayed significant difference from those of the normal subjects. Result of this study suggests that ethanol leaf extract of D. stramonium possess antidiabetic potential and does not have harmful effect on the liver.