Abstract

Hypoglycaemic effects of dichloromethane: methanolic leaf and stem bark extracts of Pappea capensis in male Albino rats

Author(s): David N Ngai*, Michael N Musila, Beatrice G Muthoni, Shadrack M Njagi, James K Kamau, Mathew Piero Ngugi & Joan M Njagi

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders that result in hyperglycaemia due to reduced insulin production or poor utilization of insulin in the body. The treatment of diabetes mellitus has been confined to the use of oral anti-diabetic agents and insulin which are unaffordable and are known to cause side effects. This has led to increased demand for hypoglycaemic herbal products that are affordable, more readily available and have fewer side effects. The present study was designed to determine the anti-diabetic activity of DCM: Methanolic leaf and stem bark extracts of Pappea capensis on alloxan-induced diabetic male albino rats. The DCM: Methanolic leaf and stem bark extracts of P. capensis demonstrated hypoglycaemic activity by reducing blood sugar levels of alloxan-induced diabetic rats to 6.70 and 6.54 mmol/L respectively. From the histopathological studies of the liver, kidney and pancreas tissues of alloxan-induced diabetic rats, there was evidence of recovery from alloxan-induced damage after administration of leaf and stem bark extracts of P. capensis and this followed a dose-related pattern. These curative effects may be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals such as glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics and flavonoids that are associated with hypoglycaemic activity. The leaf and stem bark extracts of P. capensis, therefore, may be used in the development of herbal products with anti-diabetic activity.