Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Aim: To investigate the antidiabetic effect of Parkia biglobosa ethanolic root extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji Osun State, Nigeria, between October 2014 and August, 2015.

Methodology: Sixty adult female Wistar rats weighing between 120-190 g were divided into six study groups I, II, III, IV, V, VI, (n=8) weighing between 120-190 g. Group 1 was designated as positive control and received distilled water, group II was designated as negative control and received (1 ml) of  streptozotocin, group III was designated as diabetes induced and orthodox and received (1 ml) of Insulin, groups IV, V and VI were designated as diabetes induced and extract treated groups and received (250 mg/dl, 500 mg/dl and 1000 mg/dl) respectively.

Results: The phytochemical screening of the ethanolic root extract showed the presence of flavonoids, tannin, saponins, cardiac glycosides, phenolics, terpenoid and oxalate. There was a significant decrease in blood glucose levels of diabetes treated groups VI, V and VI at the end of the experiment which portrays the therapeutic efficacy of Parkia biglobosa ethanolic root extract in ameliorating diabetic condition. There was a significant decrease in Alanine transaminases (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alkaline phosphotase in extract treated groups compared with negative control. However, Total cholesterol, High density lipoprotein (HDL), and Triglycerides (TG)  shown increase which was not significant compared to the negative control but Low density lipoprotein (LDL) depicted decrease which was significant compared with the negative control.

Conclusion: The results obtained from all these assays justify the therapeutic efficacy of Parkia biglobosa root extract to ameliorate diabetic condition.