Ethno-medicinal studies of Brachystegia eurycoma Harms, Detarium microcarpum Guill. and Perr and Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC on Blood Glucose Levels, Liver Enzymes, and Lipid Profile of Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the ethno-medicinal effect of Brachystegia eurycoma Harms (B. eurycoma), Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr (D. microcarpum) and Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC (M. pruriens) seeds on blood glucose levels, liver enzymes, and lipid profile of female Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: B. eurycoma, D. microcarpum and M. pruriens aqueous seeds extract were administered at a single dose of 200 mgkg-1 body weight to the experimental animals individually and in combination daily for three weeks. Results: The blood glucose level in group II, IV and V (94.5±3.09, 99.5±3.77 and 100.0±5.83 mg dL-1) were significant different (p<0.05) when compared to group I (82.0±5.85 mg dL-1). HDL, LDL and TG concentration in groups III, IV and V were significant different (p>0.05) compare to the control. AST and ALT level in group II and III were also significant different (p<0.05) when compared to group I and V. However, group IV was significant higher (p<0.05) when compared to group II, III and V. Conclusions: This present study showed that administration of B. eurycoma, D. microcarpum and M. pruriens seeds extract at 200 mgkg-1 alone or in combination improved blood glucose level, liver function profile, liver enzymes, pancreas and did not posed any significant health risk. In conclusion, B. eurycoma, D. microcarpum and M. pruriens may be safe for use as a soup thickener.

Expanding the insights into the usefulness of Brachystegia eurycoma Harms: a review of its nutritional and medicinal values.

“…Similarly, the aqueous extract of the seeds at a single dose of 200 mg/kg also caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase liver enzymes. Its combination of the aqueous extracts of D. microcarpu and M. pruriens did not cause a significant change in the levels of these enzymes [43].…”

“…Treatment with aqueous extract of the seeds of B. eurycoma alone or in combination with aqueous extracts of Detarium microcarpu and Mucuna pruriens at a single dose of 200 mg/kg for 7 or 14 days had been reported to significantly (p < 0.05) lower blood glucose levels compared to vehicle treated female Wistar rats [43]. Similarly, the methanol extract of the seed powder has been demonstrated to have inhibitory effects on key enzymes such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase and aldose reductase linked to the pathology and complications of type 2 diabetes [41].…”

“…Nevertheless, it will be useful to do an extensive chronic toxicological screening of the crude extracts and pure isolates from the plant to obtain a better toxicological profile of the plant. This is especially important more so as the preliminary pharmacological screening reviewed showed that the plant has the potential for the development of medicines for chronic conditions like pain, ulcer, and diabetes [36,[41][42][43]. Additionally, the quest to source modern food and medicines from the plant has also led to the isolation of gum from the seeds which had shown great potential for application as suspending agents, emulsifiers, and binders in food and pharmaceutical formulations [61,62].…”