Evaluation of the Anti-Diabetic and Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous Extracts of Morinda lucida and Saccharum officinarum Leaves in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: To investigate the antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidaemic, and antioxidant potentials of the combined aqueous extracts of Morinda lucida and Saccharum officinarum leaves.

Study Design: Thirty alloxan-induced diabetic male rats were randomly and evenly distributed into six groups, and were subsequently exposed to the following treatments for twenty-one days: Group I (Control): Normal saline; Group II: Untreated Diabetic control; Group III: Diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (600mg/Kg. b.w); Group IV: Diabetic rats treated with Morinda lucida (400mg/Kg b.w); Group V: Diabetic rats treated with Saccharum officinarum (400mg/Kg b.w); Group VI: Diabetic group treated with Morinda lucida and Saccharum officinarum (400mg/Kg b.w, 1:1).

Place and Duration of Study: This work was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria between November 2012 and February 2013.

Methodology: Blood samples were collected for the determination of fasting blood sugar and biochemical profiles following the last oral treatment and an overnight fast. The pancreas, liver, and kidney tissues of each animal were excised and subjected to tests for oxidative stress markers.

Result: There was a significant reduction (P< 0.001) in the fasting blood glucose of diabetic rats treated with the plant extracts, both separately and the extract mixture when compared to the untreated diabetic group. Diabetic treated groups showed a significant decrease (P<0.001) in the levels of Total cholesterol and Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol when compared to the diabetic untreated group. Levels of reduced glutathione and Catalase activities in the pancreas and liver of diabetic treated groups were significantly increased compared to the untreated diabetic control (P<0.001). Activities of Super-Oxide Dismutase were significantly increased (P<0.001) in the pancreas and kidney of rats treated with the plant extracts while Malondialdehyde showed a significant reduction in the treated groups of all organs evaluated (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The extracts showed anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipidaemic and antioxidant potentials.