Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 1(2): 18-21, 2009
ISSN: 2040-8773
© M axwell Scientific Organization, 2009
Submitted Date: June 08, 2009
Accepted Date: July 27, 2009
Published Date: September 10, 2009
Evaluation of the Effect of Aqueous-ethanolic Stem Bark Extract of Commiphora
Africana on Blood Glucose Levels of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats
1
A.D .T. Goji, 2 A.A .U. D ikko , 3 A.G . Bakari, 1 A. Mohamm ed and 1 Y. Tanko
Departm ent of Human Ph ysiology , Ahmadu B ello U niversity, Zaria, Nigeria
2
Departm ent of Human Ph ysiology , Bay ero U niversity, K ano, Nigeria
3
Departm ent of Medicine, A hmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika, N igeria
1
Abstract: This study was undertake n to evaluate the hypog lycemic effect of aqueou s-ethanolic stem bark
extract of Commiphora african on blood glucose levels of alloxan-induced diabetes rats. Three doses of the
extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg ) were administered p.o . There was a significant decreased in the blood
glucose levels after 1 day of treatment with the dose of 400 mg/kg. Also after 5 and 7 days of treatment there
was a significant decrease in the blood glucose levels with the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg when compared
to control. As regards to the dose of 100 mg/kg there was no any significant decreased in the blood glucose
levels when compared to control. The Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids,
tannins, flavonoids, steroids and saponins. The median lethal dose (LD 5 0 ) in rats was calculated to be 3.8078
mg/kg body weight. In conclusion the aqueous ethanolic stem bark extract of Comm iphora Africana possess
anti-diabetic effect in alloxan- induced in diabetic rats.
Key w ords: Comm iphora african, hypoglyc emic activity, alloxan, diabetes me llitus, phytoche micals
INTRODUCTON
Diabetes mellitus (DM ) is a major health prob lem all
over the world. Globally, the number of people that have
been diagnosed with diabetes has exploded in the past two
decades. In 2000, 151 million has been projected that 221
million peop le will be diabetic in 2010 and 324 million by
2025 (Zimmet et al., 2001). Several approach es were
made to reduce the hyperglycemia, the hallmark of
diabetes mellitus, with treatment such as sulfonylurea,
which stimulates pancreatic islet cells to secrete insulin;
metformin, which act to reduce hepatic glucose
production; "-glucosidase inhibitors, wh ich interfe re with
glucose adsorption and insulin itself, which suppresses
glucose production and augment glucose utilization
(Mo ller, 2001) The grow ing public interest and awareness
of natural products have led p harmac eutical industry and
acad emic researchers to pay more attention t medicinal
plants (Day, 1998). The apparent reversal from w estern to
herbal medicine is partly due to the fact that sy nthetic
drugs have always shown adverse reactions and other
undesirable side effects. This has led the belief that
natural products are safer bec ause they are more
harmonious with biological system. In addition, the cost
of administering m odern antidiabetic drugs is beyond the
reach of peo ple in the low income group and those living
in rural areas. In Nigeria, hundreds of plants are used
traditionally for the managem ent of diabetes mellitus. To
date, however, only a few of these medicinal plant have
received scientific scrutiny, despite the fact that the w orld
Health Organization has recommended that medical and
scientific examination of such plants should be
undertaken (WH O, 1980)
Commiphora africana belongs to the family of
Burseraceae and a group of plant called M yrrh (Hanus et
al, 2005; Dalziel and Hutchinson, 1956) and it is found on
dry sites and savannah forest of Africa (Irvine, 196 1). It
is traditionally used for the treatment of a number of
ailment including the treatment of typhoid and wound
healing (Lew is and Elvin-Lew is, 1977). Com miphora
africana is a small tree, sometimes reaching 10 m but
usua lly not more than 5 m high. It can be recognized
unm istakab ly from a distance by its outline--a spherical
top and a short trunk with low branc hes. C rown is
rounded, with the branches ascending and then curving
downw ards. Many of the branch es end in spines. The bark
is grey-green, sometimes shiny, peeling in membranous
scales; slash red, pleasantly scented, exuding a clear gum.
Has a creeping root system that spreads seve ral meters
around the tree. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets cuneate at the
base and with irregular and bluntly toothed margins, waxy
grey-green above with a sparse covering of hairs, lighter
in color and more densely hairy below, up to 4 x 2.5 cm,
the midd le leaflet larger than laterals. Flowers in axillary
clusters of 4-10; petals 4, red, not fused, but forming a
tube about 6 mm long. Fruits reddish, 6-8 mm across but
sometimes larger, almost stalkless, made up of a tough
outer layer, which splits when ripe to reveal a hard,
furrowed stone embedded in a red, resinous flesh. The
generic name ‘Comm iphora’ is based on the Greek words
‘kom mi’ (gum) and ‘phero’ (to bear). The specific name
simply means A frican.
The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of
aqueous ethanolic stem bark extract of Com miphora
africana on blood glucose levels of alloxan induced
diabe tic W istar rats. This would help to justify the use of
the plant in the treatment of diabetes.
Corresponding Author: A.D.T. Goji, Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
18
Asian J. Med. Sci., 1(2): 18-21, 2009
The alloxan induced diabetic rats were rand omly
assigned into five groups (1-5) of six rats (n=6) each as
follows, namely:
Group 1: Diabetic, untreated Wistar rats(was given
norm al salnn e,5m l/kg bo dyw eight p.o
Group 2: Diabetic to be treated with 100 mg/kg extract
p.o.
Group 3: Diabetic to be treated with 200 mg/kg extract
p.o
Group 4: Diabetic to be treated with 400 mg/kg extract
p.o
Group 5: Dia betic to be trea ted w ith metformin
(250mg/kg p.o) (Marta et al., (2000); Solskov
et al. (2008).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant Materia l: A sample of the stem bark of
Com miphora africana was collected within Main campus,
Ahmadu Bello University, Z aria in the month o f January
2009. The plant w as iden tified and au th en ticate d by M .
Musa of the herbariu m section in the D epartm ent of
Biological Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,
where an herbarium specimen was prepared and deposited
there with a voucher number 900300.
Extract Preparation: The stem bark of Com miphora
africana were collected and dried under shade and ground
into powder. The powder (500g) was macerated in 30% of
distilled water and 70% ethanol at room temperature for
24 hours. It was then filtered using a filtered paper
(Whatmann size no.1) and the filtrate ev aporated to
dryness in water bath at 40/c. A brownish residue
weighing 30.5g was obtained. This was kept in air tight
bottle in a refrigerator until used.
Determ ination of blood glucose levels: All blood sample
were collected from the tail artery of the rats at interval of
0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. Determination of the blood glucose
levels was don e by the glucose-o xidase principle (Beach
and Turner, 195 8) using the O NE TO UC H B asic
(Lifescan,MilpitasCA) instrument and results were
expressed as mg /dl (Rheney and K irk, 2000).
Ch em icals used: All chemicals and drugs used were
obtained commercially and of analytical grade.
Statistical analysis: Blood glucose levels were expressed
in mg/dl as mean±SEM . The data were statistically
analyzed using ANOV A with multiple comparisons
versus control group by Dunnett’s method. The value of
p<0 .05 or p <0.01 were taken as significant.
Phytochemical screening: A preliminary phytochemical
screening of the stem bark extract of Commiphora
africana seed was also done using standard methods of
analysis (Trease and E vans, 198 9; Sofow ora, 1992).
Acu te toxicity studies: LD 5 0 determination was
conducted using the m ethod of L ork (1983). In the initial
phase, male and female wistar rats were divided into three
groups of three rats each. They w ere treated w ith the
Comm iphora africana stem bark extract at doses of 100,
100 and 1000 mg/kg per orally. Animals were observed
for 24hours for signs of toxicity. In the second phase of
the toxicity study the animal were grouped into three
groups of one rat each .They were treated w ith the
Com miphora africana stem bark extract at doses of 1600,
2900 and 5000 mg/kg per orally. Animals were observed
for 24 hours and there was mortality recorded.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The preliminary phytochemical screening of
Com miphora africana stem bark extract revealed the
presence of flavinoids, tannin, anthraquinone, cardiac
glycosides alkaloids, triterpenoids, saponins, and reducing
sugars.
Acu te toxicity study: Signs of the toxicity were first
noticed after 5-8 h of extract administration. There w ere
decreased locomotor activity and sensitivity to touch.
Also there was decreased feed intake, tachypnoea and
prostration after 12 h of extract administration.
An ima ls and induction of diabetes mellitus: Thirty six
(36) W ister rats weighing between (120-50 g) of about
20-25 weeks of age of both sexes was used and was
obtain from the Animal House of the Department of
Pharmacology and C linical Pharmacy, A.B.U. Zaria. They
were kept in plastic cages under laboratory condition of
temperature and humidity and placed on standard feed
and allow free access to water with 12 h light/dark cycle.
The animal w as fasted for 12-18 h with free access to
water prior to the induction of diabetes which was carried
out by single intraperitoneal injection of Alloxan
dissolved in 0.9% v/v cold normal saline solution at a dose
of 150 mg/kg b.w (Saddique et al., 1987).
Three days after Alloxan injection, the blood glucose
levels was measured using the glucose-oxidase principle
and only those rats with fasting blood glucose greater than
200 mg/d l will be included in the study (Stanley et al.,
2001).
The LD 5 0 was calculated as 3807.8 mg/kg .
Table 1 showed the results of the effect of three doses
(100, 200, 400m g/kg) of aqueous ethanolic stem ba rk
extract of Comm iphora afriana, metformin and control
groups In alloxan diabetic W istar rats. The doses of
metfo rmin and 1 00m g/kg o f the extract did not show any
significant change in blood glucose levels when compared
to untreated control. However, the doses of 200 and
400mg/kg of the extract showed a significant (P<0.05 and
P<0.01) decrease in the blood glucose levels after day 5
and 7.
Alloxan monohydrate is k now n to induce diabetes by
partial destruction of pancreatic $-cells of islet of
langerhan (Cakici et al., 1994; Abdel-Barry et al., 1997).
This results in decrease insulin levels and h yperglyce mia
leading to type 1 diabetes mellitus. The alloxan- treated
rats, therefore, appear to represent a good labo ratory
19
Asian J. Med. Sci., 1(2): 18-21, 2009
Tab le 1: Effect of aqueo us ethanolic stem bark ex tract of Comm iphora africana on blood glucose levels of alloxan ind uces diabetic W istar rats.
Blo od g luco se lev els(m g/dl)
Treatment
Day 0
Day 1
Day 3
Day 5
Day 7
Control (normal saline)
54 9.8 ±2 7.2
55 4.0 ±2 4.2
45 8.8 ±3 4.6
46 4.0 ±2 1.0
49 0.1 ±3 2.5
Metformin 250mg/kg
418.3±30.04
41 7.3 ±2 5.4
32 3.1 ±1 2.0
39 4.0 ±2 3.5
38 9.6 ±1 6.6
100 mg/kg Ex tract
44 9.5 ±4 7.8
42 7.6 ±4 4.5 n s
47 3.5 ±5 1.7 n s
43 7.8 ±5 9.0 n s
43 3.1 ±4 4.2 n s
200 mg/kg Ex tract
45 7.0 ±4 1.9
30 9.0 ±7 6.1 n s
29 4.3 ±6 2.5 n s
20 4.3 ±3 1.2 b
18 5.6 ±3 6.6 b
400mg/kg Ex tract
42 3.6 ±5 9.9
27 6.5 ±8 0.3 a
26 4.3 ±9 8.1 n s
16 6.6 ±4 8.1 b
15 8.6 ±5 1.0 b
a=
b=
P< 0.05 P<0.01; a and b= significant, ns=not significant
model for IDDM , experimen tal diabe tes state, w ith
residual or remnant insulin production by the pancrea tic
$ cells.There is p ossibility for the survival of a few $-cells
and this has been proved by several workers who
observed antihyperglycemic activity with ora l
hypoglyc emic agents like glibenclamide,tolbutamide etc.
in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (Sheeja and Augusti,
1993; Kumud and Mathew, 1995; Subramoniam et al.,
1996; Prince et al., 1999). The diabetic state of alloxantreated diabetic rats is therefore, not the same as that
obtained by total pancreatectomy, as daily administration
of insulin is not required for the survival in alloxantreated diabetic animals.
Com miphora africana have been shown to have
antihyperglycem ic poten tial in alloxan diabetic rats by
possibly stimulating the $-cells an d or du e to its insulinlike activity. C. africana at doses of 100 200 and 400
mg/kg is show n in Table 1. In relation to the diabetic ra ts
that received 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract of C.
africana, there was no significant change in the blood
glucose levels w hen com pared to the co ntrol. In regard to
the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg, it significantly (p<0.05
and p<0.01) low ered the bloo d gluc ose lev el when
compared to control after day 5 and 7 of extract
administration.
In conclusion, the present study showed that aqueous
ethan olic stem bark extract of C. africana possessed
antidiabe tic properties which suggest the presence of
biologically active c omp onents w hich m ay be worth
further investigation and elucidation. The effective
antidiabetic dose was found to be 400mg/k g bodyw eight.
Further studies are currently under way to isolate and
characterized the active components of the crude extract
of this pla nt.
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ACKNOW LEDGMENTS
The authors of this work wish to acknowledge the
technical assistance of Malam Ya’u M . of the Department
of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine Ahmadu Bello
University, Z aria, Nigeria.
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