ABSTRACT

The effects of extract of leaves of lasienthera africana were assessed in alloxan

— induced male and normal control rats supplemented through stomach tubes

with 50mg I kg body weight of leaves extracts of Iasienthera africana. The

extracts of leaves of Iasienthera africana exhibited significant (P< 0.001)

reduction in blood glucose level of test diabetic rats (Group I) compared to

diabetic control (Group II) rats. Lasienthera africana also had a significant

reduction (P < 0.05) in Group III solvent control rats as compared to normal

control rats Group IV. Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase

(ALT) had significant reductions (P < 0.001; P < 0.01) respectively in their

activities of Group I (test diabetic) rats as compared to Group II (diabetic

control) rats. There was, however no significant (P < 0.05) reduction in ALT

activity in (Group Ill) normal solvent control rats on Iasienthera africana as

compared to (Group IV) normal control rats. The activity of Alkaline

phosphatase (ALP) was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced in Group I rats as

compared to diabetic control Groups II. There were no significant (P < 0.01)

differences in the levels of Na + and K in the test and control groups. HCO3-

levels were however significantly higher (P <0.05) in Group I and Ill as

compared to their controls Group II and IV respectively. Mg 2+ was significantly

(P <0.001) higher in Group I rats as compared to diabetic control rats of Group

II. This study showed that extracts of leaves of Iasienthera africana had

significant hypoglycaemic effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and may be

beneficial in the management of diabetes mellitus.