PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN-VIVO ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health problem and the incidence of DM is increasing at alarming rate all over the world. Many Indian medicinal plants have been reported to possess potential antidiabetic activity and could play important role in the management diabetes. Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) popularly known as miracle tree belongs to the family Moringaceae.  It  is  a  medicinal  plant  in  which  the  leaves  are  the  most  nutritious  part,  being  a  significant  source  of  vitamins and protein among others. This study was conceived and designed based on the gaps in the research that has been performed and what is known about the plant. This study investigated the protective and ameliorative potential of ethanol extract of M. oleifera leaf (50-200mg/kg) on alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar rats. Qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents was determined by the well-known test protocol available in the literature. Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were orally pretreated with extract (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or post-treated with extract (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/day), glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg/day) or metformin (200 mg/kg/day) for two weeks. Other animals received only extract, alloxan (diabetic control) or vehicle (control). Blood glucose concentrations were measured at the beginning and twice weekly. Glucose levels in extract pretreated rats were lower than alloxan-induced levels, but when compared with control, were higher except that glucose level was normalized from the 11^th day in 200 mg/kg extract pretreated rats. Glucose concentrations in extract, glibenclamide or metformin post-alloxan administered rats were decreased compared to diabetic rats. But they were higher than control, except by day 14 wherein glucose level was normal or lower. When compared with glibenclamide or metformin, glucose levels of extract treated animals were higher on the 7th day, but lower at the end of treatment. In addition, extract treatment caused hypoglycemia after fourteen days of treatment in normal rats. The results demonstrate that M. oleifera leaf possesses protective and ameliorative antidiabetic potential in rats.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Moringa oleifera, Phytochemical screening, Alloxan monohydrate.