Abstract
Free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus leading to various complications including atherosclerosis. Kigelia africana is highly used for ethnomedical purposes although there is paucity of scientific information on its uses. This study is designed to investigate the possible anti diabetic and anti oxidative effects of methanol extract of leaf and fruit of k. africana. Diabetes was induced with alloxan in a dose of 160mg b.wt. i. P. After 4 weeks of treatment, diabetic rats untreated (positive control) showed an apparent reduction in the body weight, significant increase in the blood glucose level, triacyglycerol (TG) total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) with corresponding decrease in serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC) as compared to the normal control. In addition, there was significant deviation of lipid peroxide measured as malondialdehyle (MDA), with masked reduction in serum Glutathione Peroxidase activity, SOD, CAT and Vitamin C concentration. On the other hand, oral daily treatment of animal with K. africana in a dose of 200mg/kg bwt for the period of 4 weeks ameliorated alloxan-induced alterations in the animal body weight as well as blood glucose, MDA, lipid profile, activities of SOD, GPx and CAT. In conclusion, K. africana extract offers promising results mainly could be attributed to its potent antioxidant potential. Further studies will be required in future to determine which one (or more) of its active constituent has the main antidiabetic and antioxidative effects.
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