Antidiabetic properties of Solanum villosum and Solanum nigrum var sarrachoides in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses immense challenge to the health of people worldwide. Current therapies are limited by cost and adverse effects. Solanum nigrum, a complex of many species in the family Solanaceae has been recorded to be used by many communities in the management of DM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical, antidiabetic efficacy and safety of two species, namely; Solanum villosum and S. nigrum var sarrachoides using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model.Methods: Qualitative assessment for phytochemical constituents was carried out. Acute toxicity was conducted based on ‘Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development’ 2001 guidelines. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal after the mice fasted for 8 hours. Aqueous extracts were administered orally using an oral gavage at doses of 150, and 300 mg/kg body weight for each plant daily and monitored weekly for 28 days.Results: Both plants contain vital phytochemicals. Flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, and glycosides were present in both plants. However, phytosterols and coumarins were absent in S. villosum. Additionally, both plants did not show toxicity. Both plants showed efficacy with S. nigrum var sarrachoides being more potent at both doses.Conclusions: The study validates the use of these plants by herbalists and recommends further studies on them with the aim of elucidating the active compounds that can be used as novel therapies for diabetes. Additionally, the study recommends the evaluation of other species in this complex for antidiabetic properties.

African nightshades (Solanum nigrum complex): The potential contribution to human nutrition and livelihoods in sub‐Saharan Africa

“…Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites present in abundance in various parts of ANS. Total phenols, carotenoids, glycoalkaloids, and chlorophylls are phytochemicals in ANS (Table 5) (Neugart et al., 2017; Nyaga et al., 2019; Nyaga, 2020; Yuan et al., 2018). Solanum nigrum var.…”

“…sarrachoides leaves contain flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponin phenols, phytosterols, coumarins, and glycosides. In contrast, S. villosum leaves showed all the phytochemicals, except phytosterols and coumarins (Nyaga et al., 2019; Nyaga, 2020). These phytochemicals are also bioactive compounds in ANS with potential health benefits.…”

“…Aqueous extracts of leaves from both S. villosum and S. nigrum var. sarrachoides possessed significant antidiabetic effects in the Streptozotocin‐induced diabetes mice model (Nyaga et al., 2019; Nyaga, 2020).…”

Exploring biodiversity and ethnobotanical significance of Solanum species in Uzbekistan: unveiling the cultural wealth and ethnopharmacological uses

“…Using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model, Nyaga et al (2019) showed significant antidiabetic effect of S. nigrum var. sarrachoides and hence their use in folklore medicine.…”

“…On the other hand, glycoalkaloids (solanine and solasodine) from butanol extract of S. villosum fruit possessed anticancer potential on LIM-1863 human colon carcinoma cell line ( Venkatesh et al, 2014a ). Five years later, Nyaga et al (2019) reported the antidiabetic property of this plant in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model. The authors proposed that the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, and glycosides in the plant makes it a potential candidate for novel diabetes therapies, especially considering its demonstrated lack of toxicity.…”