Lupeol acetate from Macaranga barteri Müll-Arg leaf lowers blood glucose level in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Macaranga barteri Müll - Arg (Euphorbiaceae) is one of the thirty-seven species of the genus Macaranga found in Africa and Madagascar. It is used in the treatment of several diseases which has been verified and reported in several studies.

Objective: The phytochemical analysis and antidiabetic activities of the ethanol extract, Petroleum spirit and Chloroform fractions of the leaf of M. barteri were investigated.

Methods: Standard procedures and glucose-oxidase methods in Alloxan induced Diabetic rats and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry analysis of the isolated compound responsible for the antidiabetic activity were carried out.

Result: The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids in the extract and fractions of M. barteri leaf. The Chloroform fraction and ethanol extract however tested positive for sterols. The antidiabetic activities of the ethanol extract, Petroleum spirit and Chloroform fractions over a period of 6 hr and 24 hr were observed. The activity of the Chloroform fraction was significant (P<0.05) while the mass spectra of the isolated compound responsible for the antidiabetic activity was similar to that of Lupeol acetate (m/z 467).

Conclusion: This study has been able to report the antidiabetic activity of the extract and fractions of M. barteri. In addition, this study reports for the first time the isolation of lupeol acetate and its antidiabetic potentials in the leaves of M. barteri.

Keywords: Macaranga barteri, antidiabetic, Lupeol acetate, Alloxan