1. Introduction

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Diabetes mellitus (DM) presents enormous and increasingly important public health issues as it is listed among the commonest non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally, the prevalence of which increased in adults from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014. Diabetes mellitus led to about 1.5 million deaths in 2012. Elevated blood glucose resulted into an additional 2.2 million deaths through complications arising from heart related diseases. Over 43% of these deaths were recorded before the seventh decade of life [1, 2]. Prevalence of DM in Africa is approximately 1% in rural areas and up to 7% in urban sub-Sahara Africa [3]. In Nigeria, DM is estimated to be between 0.9–15% [4].

mucilaginous polysaccharides, and have been used as traditional folkmedicine. Yokoyama et al [16] reported C. olitorius leaves to ameliorate atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice [16]. It is called 'ewedu' in Yoruba Language and is a common source of vegetable among Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. This study therefore investigated the anti diabetic and safety potentials of ethanolic

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

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71529

59

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

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

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,

leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats (Figure 1).

2. Materials and methods

Figure 1. Corchorus olitorus.

2.1. Plant extract preparation

2.2. Experimental animals

all-glass apparatus using distilled water (BDH, UK).

in distilled water to the required dosage for administration.

The percentage of deaths attributable to high blood glucose or diabetes that occurs prior to age 70 is higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. The disease is characterized by high blood glucose levels and abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat associated with a relative or absolute insufficiency of insulin secretion and with various degrees of insulin resistance. Such alterations result in increased blood glucose causing a chronic state of high blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) that results from an absolute or relative insulin deficiency and is associated with long-term complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, heart and nerves [5].

Cellular stress as a result of reactive oxygen species such as peroxyl (ROO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), superoxide (O2.), nitric oxide (NO.), hydroxyl (OH) and non-free hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen radicals play a significant role in the pathogenesis of several disease conditions such as DNA damage, cellular degeneration and oxidation of lipids and proteins. These have been implicated in the development of these diseased conditions associated with diabetes [6–9].

The pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is managed by insulin and oral administration of hypoglycemic drugs such as sulfonylureas and biguanides which are not without a number of side effects. Moreover, none of the oral synthetic hypoglycemic agents has been successful in diabetes management and controlling long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications [10]. The toxicity of oral antidiabetic agents differs widely in clinical manifestations, severity, and treatment [11].

Optional therapies such as herbal preparations have been used for the management of diabetes. The benefits of these herbal medications are their efficacy, endogenous relativity, cost effectiveness and tolerability [12]. Various parts of medicinal trees have been employed in the third world traditional medicinal system and most have demonstrated pre-clinical or clinical normoglycemic activity [13]. Furthermore, World Health Organization has also recommended the evaluation of traditional plant treatments for diabetes [14].

Corchorus olitorius is a plant from the Tiliaceae family from the Mediterranean region, its leaves have been found to be rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, glutathione and phenols [15]. The leaves also contain fatty acids, minerals, other vitamins and

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Figure 1. Corchorus olitorus.
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1. Introduction

58 Diabetes Food Plan

kidneys, heart and nerves [5].

severity, and treatment [11].

(NO2

diabetes [6–9].

In Nigeria, DM is estimated to be between 0.9–15% [4].

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Diabetes mellitus (DM) presents enormous and increasingly important public health issues as it is listed among the commonest non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally, the prevalence of which increased in adults from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014. Diabetes mellitus led to about 1.5 million deaths in 2012. Elevated blood glucose resulted into an additional 2.2 million deaths through complications arising from heart related diseases. Over 43% of these deaths were recorded before the seventh decade of life [1, 2]. Prevalence of DM in Africa is approximately 1% in rural areas and up to 7% in urban sub-Sahara Africa [3].

The percentage of deaths attributable to high blood glucose or diabetes that occurs prior to age 70 is higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. The disease is characterized by high blood glucose levels and abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat associated with a relative or absolute insufficiency of insulin secretion and with various degrees of insulin resistance. Such alterations result in increased blood glucose causing a chronic state of high blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) that results from an absolute or relative insulin deficiency and is associated with long-term complications affecting the eyes,

Cellular stress as a result of reactive oxygen species such as peroxyl (ROO), nitrogen dioxide

The pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is managed by insulin and oral administration of hypoglycemic drugs such as sulfonylureas and biguanides which are not without a number of side effects. Moreover, none of the oral synthetic hypoglycemic agents has been successful in diabetes management and controlling long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications [10]. The toxicity of oral antidiabetic agents differs widely in clinical manifestations,

Optional therapies such as herbal preparations have been used for the management of diabetes. The benefits of these herbal medications are their efficacy, endogenous relativity, cost effectiveness and tolerability [12]. Various parts of medicinal trees have been employed in the third world traditional medicinal system and most have demonstrated pre-clinical or clinical normoglycemic activity [13]. Furthermore, World Health Organization has also recommended

Corchorus olitorius is a plant from the Tiliaceae family from the Mediterranean region, its leaves have been found to be rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, glutathione and phenols [15]. The leaves also contain fatty acids, minerals, other vitamins and

the evaluation of traditional plant treatments for diabetes [14].

), superoxide (O2.), nitric oxide (NO.), hydroxyl (OH) and non-free hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen radicals play a significant role in the pathogenesis of several disease conditions such as DNA damage, cellular degeneration and oxidation of lipids and proteins. These have been implicated in the development of these diseased conditions associated with mucilaginous polysaccharides, and have been used as traditional folkmedicine. Yokoyama et al [16] reported C. olitorius leaves to ameliorate atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice [16]. It is called 'ewedu' in Yoruba Language and is a common source of vegetable among Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. This study therefore investigated the anti diabetic and safety potentials of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats (Figure 1).
