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Phytochemical Composition of Cassia Alata Leaf Extract and its Effect on the Histology of the Pancreas of Diabetic wistar Rats

2013; International organization of Scientific Research (IOSR); Volume: 5; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.9790/3008-0550713

2319-7676

Chisom Eliakim-Ikechukwu,

Ginkgo biloba and Cashew Applications

This study intends to validate the local use of cassia alata in the management of diabetes by quantitatively analyzing the phytochemicals present and its effect on blood sugar level and the histology of destroyed pancreatic islet cells.50g of fresh leaves of cassia alata were used for phytochemical and nutritional analyses while the remaining leaves were dried and blended into fine powder.Bioactive substances in the herb were extracted with 80% ethanol.The herb extract was reinstituted with normal saline before administration to the rats.Twenty-four wistar rats of both sexes with average weight of 160g were used in this study.The rats were randomly divided into three parallel groups of diabetic and non-diabetic rats.The non-diabetic groups were designated A N , B N and C N while the diabetic groups were designated A D , B D and C D .Rats in groups A (A N and A D ) served as control for each parallel group and received 0.4ml of normal saline.Rats in the 2 parallel groups of B(B N and B D ) received singe daily doses of 500mg/kg body weight of ethanolic leaf extract of cassia alata via orogastric tube while rats in groups C (C N and C D ) received subcutaneous injection of 5IU/kg body weight of human insulin daily.All the rats received water freely and normal rat feeds.The experiment lasted for twenty-eight days.The rats were sacrificed and pancreatic tissue taken for histological studies.Histological sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin staining techniques.Experimental diabetes was induced using a single intraperitoneal injection of 65mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin.Results revealed the presence of varying quantities of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, oxalate and alkaloids.Blood sugar level also reduced in both the diabetic and non-diabetic groups and histology revealed regeneration of destroyed pancreatic islet cells.It can be inferred that cassia alata potentiates the regeneration of beta cells in the pancreas of diabetic rats and has hypogycaemic effect.These antidiabetic effects may have been brought about by its rich phytochemical composition.