Antiglycemic effect of Hunteria umbellata aqueous extract on alloxan induced hyperglycemic albino rats

This study was done to evaluate the possible anti-glycaemic effects of Hunteria umbellata leave and root aqueous extracts on alloxan induced diabetic rats. The albino rats were 18 males and 18 females divided into 6 groups of 3 rats per gender. Groups 1and 2 were normal control for male and female, groups 3 and 4 were alloxan treated diabetic control for male and females, groups 5 to 12 received Hunteria umbellata extract after alloxan induction of hyperglycaemia during days 3 to 11. The blood glucose levels of the rats were determined before alloxan treatment and at regular intervals till the end of the study. The mean random blood glucose 72 hours after alloxan injection for males and females were 295.8+89.4 and 269.3+43.8 respectively. Administration of Hunteria umbellata leave and root aqueous extract after alloxan induced hyperglycaemia significantly reduced the blood glucose (p<0.0001). The female rats were significantly more hyperglycaemic on day 11 among the diabetic control rats (p<0.004). The 20mg/kg of root extract significantly reduced the blood glucose in females than males (p<0.038). Keywords: Alloxan, hyperglycaemia, Hunteria umbellata