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Assessment of the antidiabetic potential of Pterocarpus santalinoides extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
Abstract
Purpose: To establish the pharmacological basis for the antidiabetic use of Pterocarpus santalinoides.
Methods: Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were given graded doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of P. santalinoides extract (PSE) for 21 days. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, in vivo antioxidant assay, and lipid profile were determined.
Results: Pterocarpus santalinoides extract at all doses tested caused significant (p < 0.05) reduction in FBG and significant (p < 0.05) increase in body weight of treated rats when compared with the control. There were significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and high-density lipoprotein, while the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in PSE-treated rats.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate the significant antidiabetic activity of P. santalinoides extract in albino Wistar rats, thus suggesting its potential application for the management of diabetes in humans, Furthermore, the findings may explain its use in ethnomedicine as an antidiabetic regimen.