Effect Of Methanol Extract Of Mucuna Prurienspruriens Leaves On Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Mellitus:- Dialah, Oluchi D

ABSTRACT Vi Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders that is characterised by hyperglycaemia and associated with long term dysfunction and destruction ofvarious organs such as eyes, kidney, liver and heart. This study was embarked upon to assess the antidiabetic potential ofmethanol leafextract ofMucunaprurienspruriens. Twentyfive rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 was used as a positive control, group 2 as negative control, group 3 as standard (induced diabetes and treated with glibenclamide), group 4 as diabetic rats treated with 50mg/kg body weight of the extract and group 5 as the diabetic rats treated with lOOmg/kg body weight of the extract. The extract at dose 50mg/kg and lOOmg/kg significantly (p<0.05) reduced the blood glucose level of untreated diabetic rats with the higher dose (lOOmg/kg) ofthe extract being more effective when compared with the lower dose (50mg/kg) and standard drug (5mg/kg). This means that the anti-hyperglycaemic effect ofthe plant is dose dependent. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in urea level of the rats treated with extract at doses 50mg/kg and lOOmg/kg when compared with that of untreated diabetic rats. Also, the plant showed significant increase (p<0.05) in HDL, total protein level and decrease in LDL level when compared with the untreated diabetic rats. However, the extract showed no effect on the pH ofthe rats when compared with the untreated diabetic rats; there was also a significant increase in TAG level ofthe rats that were administered with the extract when compared with the diabetic rats. This shows that the methanol extract of leaves of Mucuna prurienspruriens possesses antidiabetic activity and also possesses the tendency to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with the condition.