Hypoglycemic Activity of Some Kenyan Plants Traditionally used to Manage Diabetes Mellitus in Eastern Province

Abstract

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.

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“…The results of this study are in agreement with the previous-study on intraperitoneal injection of aqueous extract (150 mg/kg) of Catha edulis in alloxan-induced diabetic mice where it lowered blood glucose levels as effectively as insulin in the third and fourth hours after administration 3,12,13,24 . The rapid plasma glucose reduction of Catha edulis in diabetic and normal rats may be mediated by the decreased rate of carbohydrate absorption into the portal hepatic circulation.…”

“…Other study showed that different khat extracts or cathinone produces changes in terms of weight, fat mass, appetite, lipid biochemistry and hormonal levels. While some studies showed that in healthy non-diabetics, khat did not affect fasting or post-prandial blood glucose levels, others have suggested a decrease in blood glucose levels 4,5,16,20 .…”

Antiproliferative Activity of Kenyan Trametes versicolor Aqueous Extract on Selected Cancer and Normal Cell Lines

“…Aqueous extraction of T. versicolor was done according to Piero [27] and Kigondu [28] with modifications. Briefly, 100 g of the previously prepared powder of the mushroom T. versicolor was measured using an electrical beam balance and put into a 500 ml conical flask.…”

Structural Bioinformatics Analysis On Diabetes Associated Proteins

“…Insulin is a polypeptide hormone, synthesized by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in of humans and other mammals. 2% of the total mass of the pancreas consists of the islets of 80% of all the cells of islets of Langerhans consist of beta cells [4].…”