Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of aqueous stem bark of Cissus populnea (C.p) extract on some parameters in diabetic Wistar rats. Fresh stem bark of C.p was air dried, pulverized, and mixed with distilled water at room temperature for 72 h; then flittered (11 µm) and the dried filtrate (C.p extract) was used for the animals treatment, which was in 5 groups of 6 rats each: Group 1: normal control, Group 2: treated with 200 mg/kg body weight (b.w) of C.p extract; Group 3: treated with 500 mg/kg b.w of C.p extract, Group 4: treated with 100 mg/kg b.w metformin, while Group 5 untreated, after groups 2-5 were induced with diabetes mellitus with alloxan, the study was for 21 days. Treatment of groups 2 and 3 with C.p extract restored the blood glucose to level comparable to group 1, p > 0.05, but significantly different to group 5, p < 0.05. Treatment of group 3 with C.p extract stabilized the antioxidant enzymes activity without significant difference p > 0.05, when compared to groups 1 and 4; but significantly differed from group 5, p < 0.05. The pancreatic histology of groups 2 and 3 appeared normal, while group 5 had tissue atrophy. The results showed that C.p extract had potentials to modulate glucose, MDA and antioxidant enzymes activity, with no pathological effect on the pancreas. Therefore, further work is suggested for possible extrapolation to diabetic treatment.
