Abstract

ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF BALANITES AEGYPTIACA (L.) DELILE LEAVES IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETIC RATS

Elwaleed E. Ibrahim*, Abd-Elwahab H. Mohamed, Assad Khalid, Ashraf N. Abdalla

ABSTRACT

Screening of antidiabetic activity of methanolic extract of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (leaves) was done in rats by conducting glucose tolerance test (GTT) study and evaluating their effects (single dose and multidose treatment study) on blood glucose level, serum lipid profile levels in alloxan diabetic rats. The plant extract significantly (p<0.01) improved the glucose tolerance test up to 4 hour. The plant extract showing 15 and 29% reduction in blood glucose level from control values at the end of 2hrs and 4 hrs respectively. The administration of the plant extract was found to reduce blood glucose level in alloxan induced diabetic rats in single dose study. The plant extract exhibited significant (p<0.05) antihyperglycemic efficacy from 1 hr after its oral administration, the effect lasted up to 6 hrs when compared with normal rats and diabetic control rats. Blood glucose lowering potential percentage of the plant extract was 21% at 6 hr after administration, while the standard drug Glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg) caused 20% reduction of blood glucose at the same time interval when compared with diabetic control rats. The observation indicates that, The B.aegyptiaca extract was beneficial in enhancing HDL cholesterol and lowering TG, TC and LDL cholesterol, thereby reveals its useful therapeutic value. It is evidenced that glucose lowering activity of the B.aegyptiaca extract is responsible for controlling and correcting the altered lipid profile, this effect may be due to the presence of active constituents in the leaves of B.aegyptiaca.

Keywords: Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile; Antidiabeteic.