Haematological Effects of Methanol and n-Hexane Seed Extracts of Hunteria umbellata (abeere) on Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

What is it about?

There is growing research studies in identifying local medicinal plants with potentials in replacing the orthodox medicines and synthetic drugs that are now expensive, less effective with side effects when used in treatments of chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus. The chemical compositions, and effects of Methanol and n-Hexane extracts of Hunteria umbellata (HU) seeds (folkloric remedies for diabetes, obesity, anaemia etc.) on haematological parameters of alloxan induced diabetic wistar rats, were investigated. hirty albino rats were divided into sixgroups- (1) Diabetic rats without treatment (Negative control); (2) Diabetic rats,treated with glibenclamide; (3) Diabetic rats treated with 250mg/kg body weight ofmethanol extract of HU seeds;(4) Diabetic rats treated with 500mg/kg body weightof methanol extract of HU seeds; (5) Diabetic rats treated with 250mg/kg bodyweight of n-hexane extract of HU seeds; (6) Diabetic rats treated with 500mg/kgbody weight of n-hexane extract of HU seeds. Treatments of the induced diabeticrodents lasted for 14 days before they were sacrificed and blood was collected forbiochemical evaluation. From the results, significant (P≤ 0.05) high white bloodcells, platelets and mean corpuscular volume were observed in group 2. Reducingsugars (in high amounts), flavonoids, tannin, alkaloids, saponins and 14 importantcompounds were found present in the HU seed extracts. The acute toxicity study ofthe extracts showed no death at doses of up to 500 mg/kg body weight after 24 hand for 7 days of observation. Treatments with glibenclamide, and extracts of HUseeds at various doses significantly increased (P<0.05) the red blood cells (RBC),packed cell volume and hemoglobin but significantly (P<0.05) reduced the whiteblood cells and platelets of the Haematological parameters. Thus, Methanol and n-Hexane extracts of HU seeds possess anti-hyperglycemic effects on the haematologydue to their high contents of phytochemicals.

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Why is it important?

Methanol and n-Hexane extracts of Hunteria umbellata (at both 250 mg and 500 mg per kg bodyweight) exhibited effective positive antidiabetic properties, significant physiological and biochemical functions in treatment of diabetic wistar rats, induced with alloxan. The methanol and n-hexane seed extracts of Hunteria umbellate had significant composition of phytochemicals such as phenols alkaloids, flavonoids, oxalate, saponins etc. The acute toxicity test for methanol HU seed extract showed its safe nature at dose of up to 1600 mg/kg bodyweight; while that of n-hexane HU seed extract showed no sign of toxicity at dose of up to 5000mg/kg body weight. Therefore, these methanol and n-Hexane extracts of Hunteria umbellata possess the potentials of management of diabetes mellitus in animals and humans better than the standard drug (Glibenclamide); and thus, could serve as alternatives or replacements to orthodox antidiabetic drugs that are associated with long-term side effects. Utilization ofmedicinal plants (such as Hunteria unbellata) in the management of diabetes mellitus should be encouraged in Africa.

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