Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of the Phytomedicine - Bee Honey and Musa paradisiaca Extract - in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

This study examines the safety, hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects of a phytomedicine – a mixture of bee honey and Musa paradisiaca roots extract. Toxicity was evaluated in Swiss albino mice using graded oral doses of the drug (1.0g to 20.0g /kg body weight) and observed continuously; first for 4hrs, hourly for the next 24hrs, then 6- hourly for 48hrs. Diabetes was induced in groups 1, 2 and 3, using intraperitoneally administered solution of alloxan monohydrate in normal saline (150 mg/kg b.wt). Groups 1 and 2 were respectively treated with a reference drug – glibenclamide, and the extract (250mg/kg b.wt) continuously for 30 days. The effects on plasma glucose and some biochemical parameters were evaluated at the end of the experiment as indices for antidiabetic activity. The observed median acute toxicity value (LD₅₀) of the drug was 18.84g/Kg b.wt. There were significant reductions (p<0.05) in plasma glucose and low density lipoprotein levels, and significant increase (p<0.05) in high density lipoprotein in the treated diabetic group compared to the control. The results showed that the phytomedicine had both good hypoglycemic activity and good effects on cardiovascular risk factors and the high LD₅₀ value is an indication that the drug has a high margin of safety.

Keywords: Musa paradisiaca, bee honey, acute-toxicity, diabetes