ABSTRACT

This work investigated the effect of methanol extract of unripe Carica papaya on the electrolyte profile of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. A total of sixteen rats weighing 100-120kg were used for the study. The animals were placed into eight groups of two animals each. All the animals had unlimited access to feed and water Group 1: normal control (feed + water only), Group 2 as negative control(feed + water + alloxan, no treatment), Group 3 as positive control(feed + water+ alloxan + glibenclamide), Group 4 — 8(GP1-GP8): received per Kg body weight respectively, 200mg, 400mg, 600mg, 800mg and 1000mg. All The groups: 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8 except GPI, were diabetic after 3 days. Diabetes was induced with an intraperitonal injection of 120mg/kg body weight (b.w) of alloxan monohydrate. The study lasted for 28 days. Electrolytes assayed were serum chloride (cF), potassium (K), phosphate (P043 ), sodium (Nat), magnesium (Mg2 ) and bicarbonate (HCO3 ). Extract group treated; 800mg/kg showed significant (PLIO.05) decrease in sodium ion concentration when compared with the positive control, while groups treated with extract at 200, 400, 600 and 1000mg/kg showed a non-significant (PDO.05) increase in sodiumion concentration. There was a significant decrease (PLIO.05) in potassium, phosphate, and bicarbonate ion concentrations in all extract groups when compared with the positive control. Extract-treated groups (400-l000mg.kg) showed a significant (PLIO.05) decrease in chloride ion when compared with the positive control. Among extract-treated groups, the changes were not dose-dependent. From the obtained result, it can be concluded that the pulp extract had irregular modulatory effects on the electrolyte profile of the diabetic animals studied.