In <i>Vivo</i> Hypoglycemic Activity of Aqueous Extracts of <i>Chasmanthera dependens</i> in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice

Abstract

The plant Chasmanthera dependens (Hochst) have been used to manage many diseases including diabetes mellitus without scientific evaluation of its efficacy and safety. The main objective of the project was to determine the antidiabetic activity of Chasmanthera dependens plant in a rat model. Experimental design was used where the stem of the plant was collected, dried, crashed into fine powder, extracted with distilled water at 60˚C and lyophilized using a Freeze Dryer, packaged in air tight container and stored at −20˚C ready for use. The extract was orally and intraperitoneally screened in alloxan induced diabetic mice for its hypoglycemic activity at doses of 25, 48.4, 93.5, 180.9 and 350 mg per kg body weight. Diabetes in mice was induced using 186.9 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. Negative controls included normal and diabetic rats orally and intraperitoneally administered with physiological saline while positive controls included diabetic rats administered with glibenclamide as oral and insulin as intraperitoneal reference drug. The results revealed hypoglycemic activity in Chasmanthera dependens at the five different doses when given either orally or intraperitoneally. In conclusion, the medicinal plant at the various doses demonstrated significant (ρ ≤ 0.05) hypoglycemic activity. The author's recommendation is continued use of the plant extracts at low therapeutic doses. Consideration should be made to carry out the same studies using higher animals including man.