Anti-hyperglycemic Efficiency of the Aqueous Seed Extract of Mucuna pruriens in Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

This study was undertaken to evaluate the remedial effect of the aqueous seed extract of Mucuna pruriens (ASEMP) on the endocrine region of pancreas of nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats. The anti-hyperglycemic efficiency of two varieties of Mucuna pruriens var utilis; IIHR Selection 3 and Arka Dhanvantari was investigated. Oral administration of ASEMP against the nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetes in the Wistar rats showed anti-hyperglycemic effect on the blood glucose level (94 ± 0.2 mg/dl ASEMP 400 mg/kg) when compared with the control group (92 ± 0.2 mg/dl glibenclamide 5 mg/kg), (248 ± 0.3 mg/dl Diabetic control) and (90 ± 0.3 mg/dl Normal control). Significant reduction in creatinine level of the nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with ASEMP was also recorded. Histopathology examination of the endocrine region of pancreas of the rats revealed restoration of pancreatic islet cells in the diabetic-ASEMP treated rats as the beta cell mass increased and necrotic changes was reduced significantly in contrast with the diabetic control group which showed degenerated pancreatic islet cells. Therefore, this study supports and recommends the exploration of the aqueous seed extract of M. pruriens as a complementary medicine for the management of type-2 diabetes.