Hypoglycemic activity of ethanol leaf extract of Grona trifloral in alloxan induced diabetic mice

Diabetes is metabolic disease characterized by elevated level of blood glucose, which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Diabetes can be type 1, type 2 or gestational. Attention is now being diverted to natural remedies such as herbs. This study investigated the anti-diabetic properties of Grona trifloral ethanol extract using mice diabetic model. Ethanol extract of the leaf of Grona trifloral was prepared by cold maceration and analyzed for its phytochemical components. The acute toxicity of the extract was determined. Diabetes was induced by intraperitonial injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg). A total of 25 mice with evidence of diabetes were randomized into 5 groups of five rats each and treated as follows: Group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic control), group 3 (metformin, 100 mg/kg) and groups 4 and 5 (1/5 and 1/20 of leaf extracts LD50) respectively. Fasting blood glucose levels were determined using Glucometer on stipulated days. At the end of the experiments, LD50 ˃ 5,000 mg/kg body weight and the phytochemicals present in Grona trifloral were alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, proteins, tannins, triterpenoids and glycosides. There were significant (p ˂ 0.05) dose dependent percentage decreases in glucose levels in the groups treated with Grona trifloral leaf extract. In conclusion, Grona trifloral ethanol leaf extract had dose dependent increase in anti-hyperglycemic effects and at the highest tested dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, Grona trifloral hypoglycemic activities surpassed that of metformin (a standard anti-diabetic drug).