BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF SEED OF SPHENOSTYLIS STENOCARPA ATTENUATE BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETES IN RAT

Abstract

Sphenostylis stenocarpa seeds are used locally to lower blood sugar level among diabetic patient in Southeastern Nigeria. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of extract and fractions of Sphenostylis stenocarpa seeds on alloxan-induced diabetes in rat. The pulverized seed was soaked in methanol for 72h, filtered and concentrated to obtain the extract. The extract was subjected to Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC) using gradient elution to afford n-hexane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and methanol fraction respectively. Standard phytochemical method was used to screen the extract and fractions respectively. The method described by Lorke’s was used to carry out the acute toxicity study. The alloxan induced diabetic model was used to evaluate the antidiabetic activity in the rats. The phytochemical constituents present in extract and fractions were alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids. The acute toxicity study indicated no mortality or any behavioral changes even at 5000mg/kg body weight. The extract and fraction at 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg exhibited antidiabetic activity in dose dependent manner. The 400mg/kg reduced blood glucose level significantly at p < 0.05 when compared to standard drug (glibenclamide). The Sphenostylis stenocarpa seeds have demonstrated an outstanding antidiabetic activity. The research has substantiated the use of the S. stenocarpa seeds to manage blood sugar level in folkloric medicine without record of adverse effect. This could be attributed to the present of flavonoids and terpenoids and alkaloids present in the samples with proven antidiabetic potentials. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the bioactive compound responsible for the observed anti-diabetic activity.