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Objective: Setaria megaphylla (Steud) Dur & Schinz (Poaceae), a perennial grass used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes was evaluated for effect on alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes. Materials and methods: The leaf fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, 200 mg/kg) of Setaria megaphylla in vivo were evaluated for inhibitory effect on alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes using starch, sucrose and maltose as substrates. Acarbose was used as referenced drug.The leaf fractions Results: caused significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood glucose levels of treated with the various substrates used. -hexane n fraction exerted the highest inhibitory effect when starch and sucrose were used as substrates followed by methanol. Methanol was the most active fraction followed by hexane when maltose was used as substrate. The results suggest that the leaf fractions of have the potentials to inhibit alpha amylase and glucosidases in rats.

Setaria megaphylla (Steud) Dur & Schinz (Poaceae), a medicinal plant used traditionally to treat diabetes was investigated for antioxidative stress and renoprotective potentials against alloxan-induced kidney injuries in diabetic rats. Standard biochemical and histological methods were used to determine oxidative stress markers levels, kidney function indices and kidney histopathology, which were used as parameters to evaluate antioxidative stress and renoprotective activities of the leaf fractions (200 mg/kg). Significantly (p<0.05 – 0.001) increased levels of kidney oxidative stress markers (SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH) and decreased MDA level were caused by the leaf fractions in the treated-diabetic rats. Creatinine and urea levels were also significantly (p<0.05-0.001) reduced, while electrolytes levels were not significantly (p>0.05) reduced when compared to control. Kidney histology revealed absence or significant reductions in pathological features in the treated diabetic rats relative to untreated diabetic rats. The results suggest that the leaf fractions of Setaria megaphylla possess antioxidative stress and nephroprotective potentials due to the antioxidant activities of their phytochemical constituents.