Evaluation of antidiabetic potential and protective effects of Acioa barteri against biochemical changes in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Acioa barteri is a medicinal plant commonly known as Monkey fruit that grows in the tropical rain forests in many countries in West Africa. The plant extracts are useful in traditional medicine against diverse diseases and medical conditions. This study evaluated the antidiabetic and protective effect of Acioa barteri extract (EEABL) against biochemical changes in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The lethal dose of EEABL was evaluated using standard procedure. Antidiabetic and protective properties of EEABL were evaluated using sixty mature male albino rats selected into six groups containing ten rats each. Group 1 was the normal control rats without alloxan-induction but received 2mL/kg of normal saline. Groups 2 - 6 were rats induced diabetes by the intraperitoneal administration of 150 mg/kg alloxan-monohydrate dissolved in normal saline. Group 2 was the diabetic control, and group 3 was treated with 3 mg/kg Glibenclamide. Groups 4, 5, and 6 were treated with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg EEABL, respectively for 28 days. The results of the acute toxicity study of EEABL showed that it has a lethal dose (LD50) value above 5000 mg/kg. The phytochemical study showed that EEABL contains alkaloids (96.89 +/- 0.42 mg/100g), flavonoids (105.98 +/- 1.73 mg/kg), and phenols (77.58 +/- 0.29 mg/kg) in high concentrations. While tannins (13.13 +/- 0.43 mg/100g) and terpenes (18.24 +/- 0.78 mg/100g) were detected in moderate concentration in EEABL, cardiac glycoside (10.39 +/- 0.20 mg/100g), steroids (8.28 +/- 0.19 mg/100g) and saponins (6.34 +/- 0.19 mg/100g) were found to be present in low concentrations. Treatment with EEABL lowered blood glucose, urea, and creatinine significantly in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats compared to the diabetic control. Treatment with EEABL also improved haematological parameters, antioxidant vitamins (B-12, B-6, B-2, C, and E), serum electrolytes, and lipid profile in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats compared to the diabetic control. This study revealed that EEABL has antidiabetic effects and confers protection against biochemical changes in alloxaninduced diabetic rats.