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In this study five aqueous extracts; Bidens pilosa, StrychnoS.henningsii, Aspilia pluriseta, Catha edulis and Erythrina abyssinica were screened for anti-diabetic activity and their in vivo safety evaluated.The anti-diabetic activity was assessed by intraperitoneally injecting varying doses of aqueous extracts of the five plants into alloxanised mice. Toxicity was determined by injecting normal mice with 450mg of the plant extract / kg body weight and observing the effects of the extracts on histology of various organs. All the extracts showed hypoglycaemic activity. At high doses, some plants proved to be highly toxic, mildly toxic and others were safe. This study has established that the five bioactive plants can be safely used in the management of diabetes.

Cissampelos pareira Linn has been used traditionally in the management of several diseases including diabetes mellitus but its efficacy and safety after long term use is not scientifically evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine in vivo hypoglycemic activity and safety of aqueous leaf extracts of C. pareira in white male albino rats. The extracts were screened for their hypoglycemic activity in alloxan induced diabetic rats using the oral and intraperitoneal routes. The safety of these extracts was studied in rats orally or intraperitoneally administered with 1 g/kg body weight daily for 28 days by recording the changes in body and organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters and histology. Mineral composition of the extracts were estimated using total reflection X-ray fluorescence system (TRXF) while the types and quantities of phytochemicals present were assessed using standard procedures. Aqueous extracts orally and intraperitoneally administered at 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg body weight demonstrated hypoglycemic activity with the intraperitoneal route being more effective than the oral route. Oral and intraperitoneal dose of 1 g/kg body weight of the leaf extracts significantly reduced the body weight gain. The same intraperitoneal dose increased the liver and spleen, and decreased the testis weight; and reduced the hemoglobin levels, packed cell volume and increased the platelet count; increased the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, and decreased the activity of alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and creatine kinase and histologically slightly injured the liver and spleen and orally increased the activity of alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase, and decreased the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase. The extracts contained phenols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, sterols, and reducing sugars. Potassium, calcium, and iron levels in the extracts were below the recommended daily allowance. In conclusion, the observed hypoglycemic activity and slight toxicity could be associated with the phytonutrients present in this plant extract. This study recommends continued use of this plant as an herbal medicine.

Solanum incanum (Solanaceae) is a common perennial shrub-like herb that grows up to 0.9-1.2 m high which is a widely used as folklore remedy for ailments such as stomach-ache, headache, painful menstruation, angina, fever, sore throat and other painful conditions, sexually transmitted diseases, skin infections, burns wounds, pneumonia and rheumatism by various African communities. Crude root extracts of the herb were shown to exhibit antinociceptive and ant-inflammatory effect. In spite of all these uses of S. incanum, there’s no enough science-based information on the effect of purified extracts of the herb on these signs and symptoms. Hence the main objective of the study was to evaluating the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects flavonoids rich fraction from S. incanum root in mice. In this study 6.5, 12.5 and 25 mg of flavonoids rich fraction S. incanum roots extract, diclofenac and the normal saline (vehicle) was injected subcutaneously in Swiss Albino mice 30 minutes prior to induction of pain and inflammation. Pain and inflammation were induced using dilute formalin solution that was injected in the animal’s left hind paw. The time spent in pain behavior (lifting, leaking and biting the injured paw) was measured and recorded for the first 5 minutes and between 15-30 minutes after formalin injection. Acute edema was used as an acute inflammatory model. The paw diameter was measured prior to injection with formalin and then after two hours. Significant analgesic and antiinflammatory activities (p < 0.05) were exhibited by 6.5 and 12.5 mg doses. These findings indicated S. incanum root extracts contains flavonoids with antinociceptive and inflammation effects

The folkloric claims that Senna singuena confers antidiabetic effect to prescribed patients has received long term clinical application accompanied by limited scientific data in support of such claims. This study aimed at bioscreening for hypoglycemic activity of the aqueous and organic fractions of S. singuena in alloxan induced diabetic mice. Type I diabetes mellitus was induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate followed by graded doses of the aqueous and ethyl acetate leaf extract administered to the experimentally diabetic mice following an overnight fast. The composition of the various phytochemicals of the plant extract was quantitatively assessed using standard procedures. Oral and intraperitoneal administration of the aqueous and ethyl acetate leaf extract caused a significant reduction in plasma glucose level in a dose independent manner in both fractions. The hypoglycemic activity could be attributed to phytoconstituents found in the plant extract. The generated data supports the folkloric claims associating S. singuena with hypoglycemic effects. However, there is need for further studies on this plant to investigate the mechanism of its activity and determine its safety profiles in order to explore possibilities of developing a new antidiabetic drug.