Hexane Extract of Dacryodes Edulis Fruits Possesses Anti-Diabetic and Hypolipidaemic Potentials in Alloxan Diabetes of Rats.

Abstract

Background: The fruit extract of Dacryodes edulis (D. edulis), the African pear or plum, a tree indigenous to the humid tropics has been used for managing wounds, skin diseases, sickle cell anaemia, dysentery and fever in some African nations. In South Eastern Nigeria, 'herbal doctors' include its marshed fruit in decoctions administered to diabetic patients. However no scientific substantiation of their claim and use exist in literature. Hence, the need to evaluate the antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic activity of hexane extracts of D. edulis fruit in alloxanised animal model. Materials and Methods: Sub-toxic doses between 400 and 1600mg/kg were orally administered sub-chronically to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 15 days and compared to glibenclamide (2.5mg/kg). The glycaemia levels, body weights, lipid profile, blood urea, creatinine and liver enzyme levels were measured. Basic histology of the pancreatic tissue was also performed to examine the effects on the pancreas as possible mechanistic lead. Results: Oral acute dosing of D. edulis hexane extract decreased blood glucose levels, while sub-chronic treatment of the extract down-regulated significantly hyperglycaemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, ALT and ALP levels. However, the HDL-C levels increased significantly. Histopathological examination of the pancreatic tissues after sub-chronic treatment showed that glibenclamide and the highest dose of the extract 1600mg/kg restored the afore-damaged pancreatic β-cell architecture. Conclusion: Our findings portend that D. edulis hexane fruit extract possesses hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities as well as restoration of the pancreatic architecture without any obvious untoward hepatic damages, suggesting that its use in the management of the diabetes may be valid.

Effect of feed supplementation of Dacryodes edulis parts’ powder as prebiotic on the growth traits, ceca microbiota and blood parameters of local chickens

“…These findings concur with those obtained by Aristimunha et al (2016) and Ogbe and Affiku (2012) . Proportionately, the amounts determined from different plant parts in this study (see Table 2 ) compare well with those reported in other studies evaluating D. edulis phytochemical composition ( Ogboru, 2015 ; Ebana et al, 2016 ; Okolo et al, 2016 ; Oyetunji and Opeyemi, 2017 ). These compounds have been noted to possess bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, and antiparasitical properties which can be exploited in pharmaceutical medicine or animal feed additives.…”

“…There exists little information on the plant use in managing animal diseases and correcting nutritional deficiencies in Africa and its use in treating human ailments ( Ebana et al, 2016 ) and its reported nutritional characteristics ( Vidanarachchi et al, 2005 ) informed its choice in this study. Determination of product efficacy and safety is the first step in considering its use in animal feed or human food chain ( Okolo et al, 2016 ). A phytochemical analysis is a good starting point in testing the efficacy and safety.…”

“…The serum biochemistry is good indicator of metabolite diseases that might arise from feeding chicken diets contaminated with chemical substances ( Okolo et al, 2016 ). Findings from this study presented indicated that inclusion of D. edulis’ plant parts in the dietary treatments fed to the dual-purpose did not induce significant changes in glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, AST, ALT, and ALP.…”

Toxicological study of aqueous-methanol solvent fraction of methanol extract of Dacryodes edulis leaves

“…Thus, the LD 50 was greater than 5000 mg/kgbw and this classifies the extract as relatively non-toxic according to Hodger and Sterners's toxicity scale [ 26 ]. There is a dearth of literature on the acute toxicity of Dacryodes edulis leave - extracts till date; however, a recent study by Okolo et al [ 27 ] have reported an LD 50 of 3500 mg/kgbw for n-hexane extract of fruits of Dacryodes edulis ; which is at variance with this present study. The observed difference in LD 50 of the two studies could be because the two studies investigated two different parts of the plant (fruit and leaves) using different solvents/extraction procedures.…”

Diabetes and plant‐derived natural products: From ethnopharmacological approaches to their potential for modern drug discovery and development

“…Oral acute doses of hexane extract reduced level of blood glucose whereas, sub‐chronic administration of the hexane extract significantly improved the conditions of hyperglycaemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and reduced the level of LDL‐C, ALT and ALP, but significantly enhanced the level of HDL‐C. Pancreatic tissues after sub‐chronic administration demonstrated that both glibenclamide and extract (1,600 mg/kg) restored the architecture of damaged pancreatic β‐cell using histopathological analysis (Okolo et al, 2016).…”