ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF DECALEPIS HAMILTONII LEAVES EXTRACT

In most nations, diabetes mellitus is a serious and rising health issue. The goal of the study was to compare the antidiabetic effects of leaves extracts of Decalepis hamiltonii in normal and diabetic rats induced with alloxan. Using 120 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate, diabetes was induced. In order to considerably lower blood glucose levels in both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats, D. hamiltonii methanolic extract was given at doses of 200 mg and 400 mg, along with glibenclamide at a dose of 7 mg/kg bwt. Additionally, the injection of the extract dramatically reduced the levels of AST, ALT, triglycerides, and total blood cholesterol while simultaneously raising the amount of liver glycogen. In order to perform the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), separate groups were given doses of D. hamiltonii methanolic extract (200 mg, 400 mg), and glibenclamide (7.5 mg), which effectively reduced blood sugar levels following an oral glucose load at all time points. These findings indicate that diabetic rats' blood glucose levels were successfully lowered by the methanolic extract of D. hamiltonii leaves. The antioxidant potential of the leaves was measured using various in vitro assays. The methanolic extracts showed high antioxidant activity measured as scavenging of DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. The antioxidant activity did not correlate with the phenolic content of the extracts. These results demonstrate the antioxidant potency of the leaves extracts which could be the basis for its alleged health promoting potential of D. hamiltonii. The leaves of D. hamiltonii could serve as a new source of natural antioxidants or nutraceuticals with potential applications to reducing the level of oxidative stress and related health benefits. KEYWORDS: Decalepis hamiltonii, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Alloxan, AST, OGTT