ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECT OF Sphenostylis stenocarpa (AFRICAN YAM BEANS) ROOT ON ALBINO RATS

LIST OF TABLES                                                

Table                                                   Title                                                                 Page               

Table 1.1 Other Names of Plant                                                                                 5

Table 1.2                                                                                                                     5

Table 4.1: General Test Result of Phytochemical Screening                                     23

Table 4.2: Effect of Sphenostylis stenocarpa on the weight and blood

glucose level of wista albino rat                                                                     24

Table 4.3: A lipid profile analysis of the effect of Sphenostylis stenocarpa

on wista albino                                                                                                26

 

 

 

LIST OF FIGURES                                              

Figure                                                  Title                                                                 Page               

Figure 1.1 Sphenostylis stenocarpa (African Yam Bean)                                               4

Figure 4.1: Graph showing the effect of Sphenostylis stenocarpa on the

weight and blood glucose level of wista albino rat                                        25

Figure 4.2:  Graph showing the A lipid profile analysis of the effect of

Sphenostylis stenocarpa on of wista albino rats                                             27

 

ABSTRACT

This research investigated the effect of methanolic root extract of Sphenostylis stenocarpa on diabeteic abino wista rats. The fractions of various solvents of 2g each of Sphenostylis stenocarpa root extract were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, to identify the secondary metabolites present. The result showed that 50% methanolic extracts of Sphenostylis stenocarpa have indicated high level of anti-diabetic activity. The extracts exhibited anti-hyperglycemic activity comparable to that of a standard anti-diabetic drug 5mL/body weight, glibenclamide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                                    i

Declaration                                                                                                                  ii

Certification                                                                                                                iii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                                      v

List of table                                                                                                                 vii

List of Figure                                                                                                              viii

Abstract                                                                                                                      ix

Table of contents                                                                                                        x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION                                                                                               1

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY                                                                    1

1.2 EPIDEMIOLOGY                                                                                                  2

1.3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT                                                                       4

1.4 PLANT USE                                                                                                        5

1.5 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM                                                                   6

1.6 AIM AND OBJECTIVES                                                                        7

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                                    8

2.1 PLANT DESCRIPTION                                                                                     8

2.2 MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF THE PLANT

(Sphenostylis stenocarpa)                                                                               9

2.3 DIABETES                                                                                                          11

2.4 SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES                                                                             14

2.5 COMPLICATIONS RESULTING FROM UNTREATED DIABETES             14

2.6 COMPREHENSIVE CAUSES OF DIABETES                                                 14

2.7 PREVENTION OF DIABETES                                                                          15

2.8 CURE OF DIABETES                                                                                         15

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS                                                                         15

3.1 PLANTS MATERIALS                                                                                       15

3.2 METHODS                                                                                                           15

3.3 PREPARATION OF EXTRACTS                                                                      17

3.4 PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING                                                                    17

3.5 EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS                                                                           19

3.6 ANIMAL GROUPING AND ADMINISTRATION OF ROOT 

EXTRACT                                                                                                      19

3.7 BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION                                                                     20

3.8 LIPID PROFILE TEST                                                                                        20

3.9 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS                                                                               22

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION                 23

4.1 RESULTS                                                                                                             23

4.2 DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION                                                 28

4.3 DISCUSSION                                                                                                      30

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS                                                33

5.1 CONCLUSION                                                                                                    33

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS                                                                                     33

REFERENCES                                                                   

CHAPTER ONE

1.0              INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Diabetes is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism characterized by increased blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) resulting from the defects in insulin action (Deore, 2011). It is one of the alarming worldwide health problems at present leading to micro vascular and macro vascular: heart attack, stroke and pheripheral vascular disease complications (Dewanjee et al., 2009).

Diabetes is a major worldwide health problem predisposing the patients to markedly increased cardiovascular mortality and serious morbidity and mortality related to the development of neuropathy. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, abnormal insulin secretion, altered metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates (Patel et al., 2011). It is becoming the third “killer” of the health of mankind along with cancer, and cardiovascular diseases (Chauhan et al., 2010).     Diabetes is usually accompanied by increased production of free radicals or impaired antioxidant defenses. Maritime et al., 2003 reported that oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. This increased oxidative stress is accompanied by a decreased antioxidant capacity. Hyperlipidemia is the presence of raised or abnormal levels of lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood. According to the latest studies, hyperlipidemia leads to oxidative stress (Li et al., 2008). Usage of antioxidants helps in reducing risks of oxidative damages in diabetic and hyperlipidemic patients (Yang et al., 2006). There is growing interest towards natural antioxidants from herbal sources (Larson, 1998). Legume seeds are a rich source of many substances with antioxidant properties, including plant phenolics. Phenolic compounds do not only effectively prevent oxidation in foods; they also act as protective factors against oxidative damage in the human body. Sphenostylis stenocarpa is an herbaceous leguminous plant occurring throughout tropical African (Porker, 1992). It is one of the lesser-known and under-utilized legumes. Sphenostylis stenocarpa is a potential source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activities. With the aim of improving the nutritive value of legumes, preparation techniques including germination have been developed to significantly raise the bioavailability of their nutrients (Urbano et al., 2005).

1.2              EPIDEMIOLOGY

All nations, rich and poor, are suffering the impact of diabetes. The impact is worse in those countries that are socially and economically disadvantaged. Diabe­tes threatens the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, increases the risk of developing tuberculosis, and is closely linked with other infections (International Diabetes Federation, 2011). The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) regional estimates for diabetes in the age group 20 to 79 years in 2011 showed significant diabetes prevalence in the seven IDF regions which consists of Africa (AFR), Europe (EUR), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), North America and Caribbean (NAC), South and Central America (SACA), South-East Asia (SEA), Western Pacific (WP). The highest undiagnosed cases are in Africa, with up to 80%. Even in Europe and North America up to 35% of cases are undiagnosed, (IDF, 2011). 

More so, most of them may be asymptomatic or have mild symptoms which are ignored to other myths. Health insurance coverage is less than 5% and mostly the privileged work­ing classes have access to it. A state in Nigeria (Imo State) has started ‘Health at your door step’ and has carried the campaign against diabetes and hypertension to its towns and villages (Hu, 2011).

In South-east Asia, 20% of the world’s populations with diabetes live in just seven countries of the region. In the Western Pacific region, 132 million adults have diabetes, the largest number of any region. In North America and the Caribbean, one adult in ten has diabe­tes – an epidemic fuelled by obesity and junk food (International Diabetic Federation, 2011).  The Middle East and North Africa have six out of the ten countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world (International Diabetic Federation, 2011). It has been estimated that the 366 million people with diabetes in 2011 may increase to 552 million by the year 2030. In 2011, 12% of deaths in South and Central America were due to diabetes – the commonest cause of death in this region. Globally, diabetes was the cause of death in 4.6 million people in 2011. This is greater than the global mortality for hypertension, AIDS, and tuber­culosis (Hu, 2011). The number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in every country. About 80% of people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries. The greatest number of people with diabetes is between 40 and 59 years of age.

Health expenditure is astronomical in diabetes. In 2011, the disease caused at least US$465 billion dollars in healthcare expenditure. This constitutes about 11% of the total health expenditure in adults. Nigeria with less than 5% health insurance presents a difficult picture for its 3.1 million people with diabetes – the highest in Africa (Osibogun, 2012). The country has a population of about 150 mil­lion, of which 76 million are adults. Diabetes-related deaths in Nigeria in 2011 accounted for 63,340 people. The diabetes prevalence of 4.9% has more than doubled when compared with the 2.2% prevalence of the Profes­sor Akinkugbe-led National Survey Report of 1997. Diabetes has been linked to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, poverty, undernutrition, loss of productivity, human capital, health system cost, maternal and child health, mental health, life changes, food security, climate changes, urbanisation, cancer, chronic respiratory dis­eases, and cardiovascular diseases. It is very significant that the UN has accorded diabetes a right of place as a global jeopardy and chronic killer (Alberti, 2007).

1.3       DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Sphenostylis stenocarpa is a climbing legume adapted to lowland tropical conditions. It is one of the lesser-known legumes (Apata, 1990) and widely cultivated in the southern parts of Nigeria. The legumes are a good source of dietary protein (Sinha, 1977). They are cheaper than animal products such as meat, fish, poultry and egg: - therefore are consumed worldwide as a major source of cheap protein and especially in the developing or poor countries where consumption of animal protein may be limited as a result of economic, social, cultural or religious-factors (Olayide, 1982).