Pharmacognostic and antidiabetic evaluation of methanol extract of Calyptrochilum christyanum (RCHB.F.) Summerh. (Orchidaceae) and it’s fractions

Plants are valuable sources of new compounds employed in the management of diabetes and other health conditions. This study aims to evaluate the pharmacognostic and antidiabetic activity of the methanol extract of Calyptrochilum christyanum and its fractions. The fresh leaf and crude extract were macroscopically and microscopically evaluated.  The antidiabetic assay was carried out on the Alloxan-induced diabetic rats using glibenclamide as the standard antidiabetic drug. The microscopic evaluation showed paracytic stomata, unicellular trichomes, and collechymatous cells with lignified cell walls. The qualitative phytochemical screening of Calyptrochilum christyanum indicated the presence of secondary metabolites in this order: Flavonoids > Phenols > Tannins > Glycosides > Terpenoids >   Saponins > Cyanides. The average percentage reduction in blood glucose showed that the methanol 200 mg fraction had the highest percentage reduction of 23.38%, followed by the crude extract 300mg at 22.60%. This, therefore, suggests that the plant indeed possesses antidiabetic activity.