AMELIORATIVE POTENTIALS OF METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF Nephrolepis undulate IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS

Background: In spite of orthodox modalities, the market for herbal preparations with anti-diabetic properties remains strong worldwide. Several plants have been researched for their effect on the metabolism of glucose and the properties of hypoglycemia. The present research explores the Ameliorative Potentials in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Nephrolepis unduranta.

Materials and Methods: Fresh Nephrolepis undulate leaves were air-dried, crushed and soaked in methanol for 48 hours, after which the methanolic extract was sewn and dried. The resulting extract, using chloroform, n-hexane and ethyl acetate solvents respectively, was subjected to liquid-liquid fractionation. Sixty adult Wistar male rats weighing 140-200 g were randomly chosen into six (6) groups of five rats (n=5) each. In rats, diabetes was induced by a single streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection. Groups 1 and 2 serve as the respective regular and diabetic control groups. Group 3 was treated with metformin at 50 mg/kg/day in the diabetic group. Groups 4, 5 and 6 were treated with 250 mg/kg/day of distinct fractions of Nephrolepis unduranta extract. The animals were sacrificed, blood samples obtained, and centrifuged at the end of the 21-day treatment period to extract serum for biochemical analysis. For biochemical analysis, the tissues of the kidney, liver, small intestine, brain and pancreas were also excised. The SPSS package was used to analyze the generated data and the results were expressed as mean ± SEM.

Result: Results obtained showed that elevated blood glucose levels were substantially decreased relative to control groups in groups receiving metformin and plant fractions (P<0.05), with the ethyl acetate fraction exhibiting the most hypoglycemic potential of the fractions. Inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes by plant fractions has also occurred.