Objective: This study was conducted to scientifically evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Erythrina abbysinica (EEA).Methods: Acute and sub-chronic effects of EEA at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/bwt and glibenclamide (GL) at 5 mg/kg/bwt. were evaluated in both normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats (250–300 g). The acute studies were performed using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In sub-chronic studies, animals were orally administered with EEA and GL daily for 6 w. Brine shrimp assay was used to determine the toxicity of EEA. 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing capacity of plasma, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assays were used to determine antioxidant properties of EEA.Results: Following OGTT, EEA significantly (p<0.05) and dose-dependently (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/bwt) decreased blood glucose levels in both normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats when compared with positive and negative control counterparts at all-time points, whereas GL significantly (p<0.05) decreased blood glucose only in normal rats but not in diabetic rats. Daily, oral administration of EEA for 6 w significantly (p<0.05) and dose-dependently (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/bwt) decreased blood glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats when compared with the diabetic control group. EEA revealed weak toxicity with a lethal concentration50 value of 997 μg/ml). Furthermore, EEA showed significant free radical scavenging, total antioxidant, and anti-lipid peroxidative capacities.Conclusion: The study has shed more light on the scientific basis for the use of E. abbysinica in management of diabetes in some communities of Eastern Cape of South Africa.
EVALUATION OF ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF ERYTHRINA ABBYSINICA LAM, EX DC
