Comparative evaluation of hypoglycemic activity and phytochemical contents of three Tanzanian medicinal plants

Abstract

This in vivo study aimed to compare hypoglycaemic activity of three commonly medicinal plants used traditionally for diabetes management in northern Tanzania Artemisia afra Willd. (Aerial parts), Moringaoleifera Lam. (Leaves) and Perseaamericana Mill. (Leaves).Evaluation for hypoglycaemic activity of 80% aqueous ethanol plant extracts was conducted at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight, orally in glucose loaded normal white albino mice by using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) method. The statistical analysis of results was carried out by using Student t-test followed by one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s multiple comparisons at probability value (p˂ 0.05).Phytochemical evaluation focused on the normal reactions of characterization based on precipitation and coloration with standard reagents. At a dose of 200 mg/kg bw.t, the three plants showed significant hypoglycaemic activity by lowering blood glucose level in glucose loaded normal white albino mice at a rate of 23%, 15% and 10% for M. oleifera, P. americana and A. afra four (4) hours administration respectively. Phytochemical evaluation indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, saponins and glycosides. The results indicated that 80% aqueous ethanol extracts of the three plants are capable of managing hyperglycemia in oral glucose loaded normal white albino mice. Thus, confirmed the previously reported hypoglycaemic activities of the plants, besides, the study identified M. oleifera as the most potent hypoglycaemic plant among the three plants.