Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2635 – 3067)
Volume 1, No. 1, 2018
Pages 11-18
DOI:10.36108/jvbs/8102.10.0120
Preliminary Evaluation of Methanol Extract of Aframomum melegueta seed for Hypoglycaemic Effect in Rats
Olaitan H. M., *Nwinyi F. C, Akumka D. D, and Mohammed A.
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Abuja, Abuja
ABSTRACT
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that has caused severe health complications and premature deaths in both developed and developing countries. It is characterized by hyperglycaemia. This study was designed to investigate the hypoglycaemic effect of methanol extract of Aframomum melegueta seed in Alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Adult albino rats of either sex weighing between 90 – 150 g were used. Diabetes was induced by administration of alloxan (100 mg/kg i.p). The rats were seperated into 5 groups of five rats each. Group I served as the negative control and was given normal saline (10 ml/kg p.o). Groups II – IV were given A. melegueta extract at varying doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o respectively. Group V was treated with Glibenclamide at a dose of 2 mg/kg p.o to serve as the positive control. The various treatments were administered for a period of 14 days. The Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) levels of the rats were determined before and weekly after commencement of treatment with the aid of a glucometer using blood collected from the tail vein. Result revealed that there was a significant (p<0.05) reduction of the Fasting Blood Glucose level after 14 days of treatment in the diabetic groups as compared to the FBG before the treatment. However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean Fasting Blood Glucose levels between groups treated with varying doses of A. melegueta seed extract. Also, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between groups treated with A. melegueta extract and the group treated with Glibenclamide. The investigation showed that A. melegueta seed extract had hypoglycaemic effect in Alloxan – induced diabetic rats which was comparable with that of Glibenclamide, a conventionally used hypoglycaemic drug. However, the hypoglycaemic effect of the extract was not dose dependent. This therefore suggests that Aframomum melegueta seed has a useful potential for the treatment of diabetes mellitus due to its hypoglycaemic effect.
Keywords: Aframomum melegueta, Diabetes mellitus, Fasting Blood Glucose¸ Hypoglycaemia, Glibenclamide.