Anti-hyperglycemic Effect of Khaya senegalensis Stem Bark Aqueous Extract in Wistar Rats

Aim: To investigate anti-hyperglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis stem bark (KSE) in alloxan-diabetic Wistar rats.
Methodology: Thirty rats were randomly divided into six groups of 5 animals each. Group I (non-diabetic control) was given distilled water orally. Animals in the remaining five groups were treated with a single dose of alloxan (120mg/kg body weight, i.p) to induce diabetes mellitus. This resulted in significant increase in the fasting blood glucose level of the rats. Group I (non-diabetic control) and group II (hyperglycemic control) then received distilled water orally for 14 days. Group III, IV and V were treated orally with daily doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight of KSE respectively for 14 days. Group VI was given glibenclamide (5mg/kg, p.o) for the same period. Fasting blood glucose was determined by oxidative method in all the groups on day 0 (before treatment), day 7 and day 14. Oral glucose tolerance test and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were estimated after the two week treatment. Body weights of the animals were also measured on day 0, day 7 and day 14.
Results: Treatment with KSE and glibenclamide caused significant (p<0.05) and dose-dependent changes compared to the untreated animals with respect to body weight, blood glucose level and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The anti-hyperglycemic effect of KSE was comparable to that of the standard drug, glibenclamide.
Conclusion: The study showed that aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis stem bark possesses anti-hyperglycemic activity.