ABSTRACT

The Photochemical, Antioxidant and Hxpoglycaemic activities of T. procumbens aqueous and elhanoi leaf extracts was studied in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Results obtained revealed that T. procumbens contains phytochemicals such as alkaloids (1.39%), saponins (12.41%), steroid (0.19%), phenol (0.16%), tannins (0.74%) and flavonoid (3.99%). The acute toxicity value (LD™) was found to be 2300mg/kg bode' weight indicating wide safety margin. Both aqueous and ethanol extracts of T. procumbens displayed significant (P<0.05) hxpoglyccmic activity during the acute and sub-acute study periods. 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of die aqueous extracts lowered glucose levels by 43.03% and 38.91% after die first two hours of administration respectively while the same doses ofthe ethanolic extracts lowered glucose levels in diabetic treated rates by 42.33% and 37.74% respectively during the same period. By the end of 14 daxs of treatment, the extracts successfully returned blood glucose level to about normal values with 400mg of ethanol extract lowering blood glucose from 194.20 + 115.73 to 85.00 + 1.12 while the aqueous extracts at the same dose lowered blood glucose level from 177.40 + 68.54 to 81.00 + 2.50. The hxpoglycemic activity of T. procumbens leaf extracts compared favourably with tliat of glibenclamide (5mgkg) which lowered blood glucose from 141.00 +16.05 to 86.00 + 1.30 by the end ofthe 14th day of treatment. The extracts also displayed strong DPPH radical scavenging activity and showed high antilipid peroxidation activity. Results obtained therefore suggest that T. procumbens aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts contain principles w ith strong hypoglycaemic and antioxidant properties and could be used in the management of diabetes mellitus.