2.4. Animal grouping and extract administration

Animals were divided into six groups, and for each group, six animals were treated orally once a day for 14 days as follows:

Group A: Control rats received distilled water only.

Group B: Diabetic control.

Group C: Diabetic rats received Glibenclamide at a dose of 5 mg/kg.

Group D: Diabetic rats received 200 mg/kg body weight extract.

Group E: Diabetic rats received 400 mg/kg body weight extract.

Group F: Diabetic rats received 800 mg/kg body weight extract.

#### 2.5. Samples preparation

At the end of the experimental period, food was withdrawn from the rats and they were fasted overnight while the animals had free access to water. They were then euthanized under diethyl ether vapor and sacrificed. Venous blood was collected from the experimental animals and serum was prepared by centrifuging the blood samples at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes and serum collected by pipetting. The animals were quickly dissected and internal organs including liver and kidney were collected, blotted using filter paper to remove traces of blood and then weighed with an analytical balance. The pancreas, liver and kidney were suspended in ice-cold 0.25 M sucrose solution (1:5 m/v) and homogenized as described by Akanji and Yakubu [17].

#### 2.6. Statistical analysis

Comparisons were made using Duncan's multiple range test, and values were considered to be significant at p < 0.05.
