2. Materials and methods

Alloxan monohydrate obtained is a product of Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo, USA. Kit for the estimation of AST, ALT, urea, creatinine and bilirubin, were produced by Randox Laboratories Ltd., Antrim, UK. All other chemicals were of analytical grades and prepared in all-glass apparatus using distilled water (BDH, UK).

#### 2.1. Plant extract preparation

The fresh leaves of Corchorus olitorius were obtained from a vegetable farm in Ilorin West Local government, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. It was taxonomically authenticated at the Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin Kwara state, Nigeria where a voucher specimen number 064 was deposited. Fresh leaves of C. olitorius was collected and air-dried for 21 days until constant weight was obtained. They were pulverized using an electric blender machine and sieved to obtain a fine powder. Forty grams (400 g) was macerated in 2500 ml of 80% ethanol, shaken at regular intervals to achieve maximum extraction. The solution was filtered using Whatman No.1 filter paper and the filtrate concentrated in water bath at 40C. The dried extract was later weighed and reconstituted in distilled water to the required dosage for administration.

#### 2.2. Experimental animals

A total of thirty-six (36) Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighing 150.50 10.50 g were obtained from the Animal Holding Unit of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Animals were maintained under standard environmental conditions i.e. ambient temperature of (27 2C) and at 45–55% relative humidity for 12 hours, each of dark and light cycle. The rats were allowed free access to standard laboratory food and water ad libitum throughout the experiment.

3. Results

detected.

diabetic rats

the highest dose of 800 mg/kg of the plant extract.

of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Where: (+) indicates present; () indicates not present

3.1. Phytochemical constituents of ethanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaf

Table 1 shows the results of the preliminary phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract. Analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phlobatannin anthraquinones, phenol, cardiac glycoside and saponin while Terpenoids, Steroids, Triterpenes were not

Antidiabetic and Safety Properties of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of *Corchorus olitorius*…

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3.2. Glycemic effect of ethanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaf of alloxan-induced

3.3. Effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius on body weight

Phytochemicals Crude extracts

Anthraquinones + Tannins + Phenolics + Saponins + Terpenoids Alkaloids + Steroids Cardiac glycoside + Flavonoids + Triterpenes

Table 1. Phytochemical composition of the crude extract of Corchorus olitorus.

Table 2 presents the glycemic effects of ethanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaf in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Single dose of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg) continuously increased the fasting blood glucose from the first day of treatment till the third, while upon oral administration of ethanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius and standard drug (Glibenclamide) for 14 days, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in fasting blood glucose was observed particularly at

In diabetic rats, continuous reduction in body weight was observed as shown in Table 3. Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) as well as the extract treatment groups at the dose of 400 and 800 mg/kg b.w showed improvement (P < 0.05) improvement in body weight of diabetic rats.
