Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Some Haematological Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Rothmannia hispida (K. Schunn) Fargel on Normoglycaemic Albino Rats

The indication for the development of newer efficacious, cheaper and readily available agents for tackling infectious and non-infectious disease conditions in African and in under developed/developing countries is the increase epidemic of these conditions coupled with widespread poverty and/or ignorance. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of these disease conditions which can, and have been managed for centuries in Africa with plant products. The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate the hypoglycaemic and haematological effects of aqueous extract of the leaves of Rothmannia hispida (RHE) on normoglycaemic albino rats. The evaluation of hypoglycaemic activity of the extract was performed on albino rats by the oral glucose tolerance test. Haematological indices were evaluated using standard procedures. The results showed that oral administration of RHE at the dose of 125mg/100g body weight (bwt) had a significant (p<0.05) increase on glucose uptake, the maximal effect appearing 60min post glucose load. Daily administration of the extracts (RHE 125mg/100g bwt and RHE 250mg/100g bwt) for 14 days had non-significant (p>00.05) dose-dependent decrease in body weight when compared with initial body weights but a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent decrease when compared with control. There was no significant (P>0.05) change on RBC, PCV, Hb, N and L concentration for all extract treated groups compared with control, but a significant (p<0.05) decrease in WBC in treated groups compared with control. It is concluded that R. hispida leaf extract possesses significant antihyperglycaemic activity. While using this leaf with caution because of its seemingly depressant effect on WBC formation, it is encouraged to pursue investigations towards identification, isolation and characterization of active phytochemicals from this plant that are responsible for the observed effects and which may serve as affordable alternatives in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and possibly other ailments.