Antidiabetic activity of the root extract of Detarium microcarpum (Fabacaee) Guill and Perr.

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder that impairs glucose homeostasis
resulting in severe diabetic complications including retinopathy, angiopathy, nephropathy,
and neuropathy thus causing neurological disorder. In this study, antidiabetic
activity of root extract of Detarium microcapum was investigated in rat model
of diabetes. A methanol root extract was prepared by soxhlet extraction and was
separated into fraction using chloroform, n-hexane and methanol to yield chloroform
fraction (CF), n-hexane fraction (HF) and methanol fraction (MF). The extract
and its fractions were screened for phytochemicals using standard methods. The
acute toxicity (LD50) of the extract was determined in mice. Diabetes was induced
by a single ip injection of 120 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate and glucose level
was analyzed as indices of diabetes. The acute toxicity test showed that the root
bark extract was safe at doses of up to 5 g/kg. The phytochemical screening of the
plant revealed the presence of proteins, carbohydrates and terpenoids in large
amount while saponins, resins, glycosides and flavonoids were present in moderate
amount. The results indicated that intraperitoneal injection of ME, MF, CF and HF
reversed the effect of alloxan in rats by different degrees. The antidiabetic potency
of the extract and fractions was in the order MF > ME > HF > CF. The results of
this study justify the use of this plant roots as traditional treatment for diabetes
mellitus.Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder that impairs glucose homeostasis
resulting in severe diabetic complications including retinopathy, angiopathy, nephropathy,
and neuropathy thus causing neurological disorder. In this study, antidiabetic
activity of root extract of Detarium microcapum was investigated in rat model
of diabetes. A methanol root extract was prepared by soxhlet extraction and was
separated into fraction using chloroform, n-hexane and methanol to yield chloroform
fraction (CF), n-hexane fraction (HF) and methanol fraction (MF). The extract
and its fractions were screened for phytochemicals using standard methods. The
acute toxicity (LD50) of the extract was determined in mice. Diabetes was induced
by a single ip injection of 120 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate and glucose level
was analyzed as indices of diabetes. The acute toxicity test showed that the root
bark extract was safe at doses of up to 5 g/kg. The phytochemical screening of the
plant revealed the presence of proteins, carbohydrates and terpenoids in large
amount while saponins, resins, glycosides and flavonoids were present in moderate
amount. The results indicated that intraperitoneal injection of ME, MF, CF and HF
reversed the effect of alloxan in rats by different degrees. The antidiabetic potency
of the extract and fractions was in the order MF > ME > HF > CF. The results of
this study justify the use of this plant roots as traditional treatment for diabetes
mellitus.