Anti-hyperglycemic activity of total ethanolic fruit extract of faidherbia albida on nicotinamidestreptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Abstract

Faidherbia albida is one of the plants that have been traditionally used throughout the world in the treatment of diabetes. In previous studies, various parts of the plant such as the methanolic root bark, aqueous seed, and the aqueous stem bark extracts have been tested on alloxan-induced diabetic rats for their anti-hyperglycemic activity. In the current study, the anti-hyperglycemic activity of the total ethanolic extract of Faidherbia albida fruits was evaluated in nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice using glimepiride as a reference anti-diabetic drug. The total ethanolic fruit extract at 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (p< 0.05) lowered the blood glucose level in diabetic mice by (74%) after 4 hrs of oral administration while the peak hypoglycemic effect of glimepiride (55.2%) occurred at the 4th hr after oral administration. The results provided evidence that Faidherbia albida fruit extract is recommended to be used as a hypoglycemic drug in treating diabetic patients.