article · World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences
This study evaluated the effects of a methanol extract of coconut husk on alloxan-induced toxicity and diabetes in male Wistar rats over a 28-day period. Diabetic rats received oral doses of the extract at 62.5 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, or 250 mg/kg, alongside control groups receiving water or the reference drug glibenclamide. The extract caused a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar compared to untreated diabetic controls, with the largest reduction of 78.25 percent observed at the 125 mg/kg dose on day 28. In addition, the extract lowered levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and urea, which had been elevated by alloxan toxicity. Overall, the treatment exhibited antidiabetic activity comparable to glibenclamide while offering protective effects against liver and kidney damage.
Diabetes mellitus often leads to complications involving liver and kidney damage. Exploring abundant agricultural materials, such as coconut husks, could reveal valuable natural therapeutic compounds. Showing that a plant extract can both lower blood sugar and mitigate organ injury in animal models provides a scientific baseline for investigating low-cost, plant-based candidates for managing metabolic conditions.
This work points toward potential applications in developing botanical therapeutics or nutraceutical ingredients targeting diabetes and associated organ complications. Target users would be pharmaceutical or functional food developers seeking plant-derived active compounds from agricultural processing residues. As an early-stage preclinical study evaluated strictly in rats, extensive phytochemical characterisation, safety assessments, and human clinical trials are still required before any real-world healthcare application is feasible.
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The present study investigated the effect of Methanol extract of Cocos nucifera Husk (MECH) in alloxan-induced toxicity in male wistar rats. Thirty-six (36) male rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups (n=6). Group 1 was administered distilled water). Groups 2, 3, 4, 5and 6 were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal dose of 150mg/kg body weight (bwt) of alloxon monohydrate. Group 2 served as diabetic non-treated, Group 3 (positive control) was treated orally with gibenclamide at 2mg/kg bwt. Groups 4, 5, and 6 were treated with MECH extract orally at doses of 62.5mg/kg, 125.0mg/kg, and 250mg/kg body weight for 28 days respectively. The fasting blood sugar (FBS) was taken on days 0, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28. At the end of 28 days, the serum biochemical parameters were measured (assigned). MECH demonstrated a significant (P<0.05) dose-dependent reduction in the fasting blood sugar (FBS) of the diabetic rats as compared to the untreated control group. A decrease of 68.5%, 78.25%, and 47% respectively on day 28. In other words, the highest reduction was seen at 125mg/kg FBS. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in levels of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urea in the alloxan-intoxicated rat when compared with normal control. MECH reduced the level of ALT, ALP, and urea compared with the diabetic control. These findings showed that MECH has significant antidiabetic activity where comparable with glibenclamide. It also may protect against DM-induced hepatorenal injuries in rats.
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DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2025.21.1.0099
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