Borassus aethiopum (Mart.) ethanol fruit extract reverses alloxan-treatment alterations in experimental animals
Date
2022
Authors
Moses Dele, Adams
Ejike, Daniel Eze
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 15 (2022) 429–44
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Borassus aethiopum fruit is claimed to be used for the management of diabetes without scientific validation.
OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to evaluate the antihyperglycaemic activity of ethanol fruit extract of Borassus aethiopum
in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
METHODS: 36 rats were placed in six groups (i-vi) (n = 6). Animals in group i (standard) were given 0.4 mls of distilled
water (d.w) whereas the ones assigned to group ii, iii, iv, v and vi which were induced into diabetes (by intake of 140 mg/kg
body weight [b.w] of alloxan) were also respectively given d.w, 50 mg/kg b.w of metformin, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg b.w of
ethanol fruit extract of Borassus aethiopum, once daily for 14 days.
RESULTS: Flavonoid found in the extract (24.04 mg/ml) occurred the most with phenolic (0.35 mg/ml) being the least. While
alloxan substantially (p < 0.05) increased the levels of some biological molecules and enzyme activity, it lowered those of
others. The extract however significantly (p < 0.05) reversed all the alloxan-induced alterations, with the extract at 100 mg/kg
b.w producing figures that compared (p > 0.05) well with those of the d.w treated non-diabetic animals and metformin-treated
diabetic animals. The extract also renewed the wholeness of histological damage in the pancreas.
CONCLUSION: The bioactive agents of B. aethiopum presented antihyperglycaemic property by preventing diabetes via
reversal of alloxan-treatment alterations in the animals
Description
Keywords
Diabetes mellitus , Borassus aethiopum , insulin , Arecaceae