Anti-hyperglycemic activity of total ethanolic fruit extract of Faidherbia albida on Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin induced diabetic mice

Faidherbia albida is one of the plants that have been used traditionally throughout the world in the treatment of diabetes. In previous studies, various parts of the plant such as the methanolic root bark, aqueous seed and the aqueous stem bark extracts have been tested on alloxan induced diabetic rats for their anti-hyperglycemic activity. In the current study, the anti-hyperglycemic activity of total ethanolic extract of F. albida fruits was evaluated in nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced diabetic mice using glimepiride as a reference anti-diabetic drug. Total ethanolic fruit extract at 200mg/kg body weight significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the blood glucose levels of diabetic mice by (74%) within 4 hours of oral administration while the peak of the hypoglycemic effect of glimepiride (55.2%) occurred at 4th hour after oral administration. The results provided evidence that F. albida fruit extract is recommended to be used as a hypoglycemic drug in treating diabetes patients.