Drug bio screening for potential anti-diabetics is scientifically motivated by the desire to discover newer, safer and affordable drugs that complement conventional strategies for management of diabetes. Urtica dioica grows naturally in many parts of Africa with a wide variety use in traditional medicine and diet. However, scientific validation for use of U. dioica has not been done for anti-diabetic activity. The aim of the study was to determine the antidiabetic effects of aqueous extracts of U. dioica in alloxan induced mice and the safety of U. dioica on mice models. The plant extracts were administered orally at doses of 25 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg which is the common route used in traditional herbal medicine administration. Evaluation for toxicity was determined at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight aqueous extracts of U. dioica. The results from the study indicated that the plant extracts exhibited insulin mimetic anti-diabetic activity. Evaluation for toxicity also indicated that a dose of 1000 mg/kg bw preserved the integrity of liver, kidney and lipid profiles for biochemical markers. Moreover, there was no significant change in the hematological and leucocyte counts. There was no significant change in gross body weight, organ body weight and histopathological changes on tissues of the body organs in this study. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of aqueous leaf extracts of U. dioica indicated the presence of phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. Various levels of different mineral elements were also recorded. In conclusion, this study confirmed that U. dioica at a dose of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weights possessed anti-diabetic activity. It is also safe for use at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight. More studies should be explored on the potential anti-diabetic effects using other routes of administration. Page 2 of 8Citation: Mukundi MJ, Mwaniki NEN, Piero NM, Murugi NJ, Kelvin JK, et al. (2017) Potential Anti-diabetic Effects and Safety of Aqueous Extracts of Urtica dioica

Whole stems of R. tridentata were collected from Narok County, Loita division in July 2012, cross identification with vernacular names of the plants was done before validation by a qualified taxonomist at the East Africa herbarium, National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Voucher specimens were deposited at the NMK and voucher numbers assigned as JM05. Coordinates for location of collection point were taken and recorded as E.36 N. 0797050 UTM 9822955 ALT. 2107. AbstractThe drawbacks associated with conventional anti-diabetic agents have largely stimulated desire for alternative and complementary anti-diabetic agents, majority of which are plant-derived. The medicinal plant, Rhoicissus tridentata has been used extensively in traditional medical practice against various ailments. However, its ethno medicinal use against diabetes mellitus has not been scientifically evaluated and validated. This study was, therefore, designed to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of aqueous leaf extracts of Rhoicissus tridentata in alloxan induced diabetic mice. As the results show, the aqueous leaf extracts of Rhoicissus tridentata showed anti-diabetic activity. The intraperitoneal route of herbal extract administration was found to be more effective than the oral route. Further, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of aqueous leaf extracts of Rhoicissus tridentata indicated the presence of phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. However, cardiac glycosides and phylobatanins were not detected.