Phytochemical screening and effects of Methanolic Extract of Azadiractha indica leaf in Alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Abstract

Phytochemical screening and antidiabetic effects of methanolic extract of Azadirachtaindica leaf was investigated in Alloxan induced diabetic rats. The phytochemical screening indicates the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and phenolic compounds. The methanolic leaf extract of A. indica administered orally, significantly (P<0.05) lowered blood glucose concentration (mg/dl) in alloxan induced diabetic rats from (444.75 + 36.36) to (83.00 + 4.26) at 500mg/kg b.w while the standard drug Glibenclamide significantly (P<0.05) lowered blood glucose from (350.75 + 60.91) to (84.50 + 569) at 0.6mg/kg b.w. The methanolic leaf extract had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the weight of the rats. However, there was significant weight (g) loss for the untreated rats from (167.25 + 2.01) to (129 + 1.89). In this study, the results obtained revealed that A. indica is a potent hypoglycemic agent as Glibenclamide and could serve as a remedy in the management and treatment of diabetes mellitus.