4. Discussion

The therapeutic cure for diabetes mellitus has remained elusive despite the discovery of an array of medications that can ameliorate the symtopms of the disease [18]. Phytotherapies have remained a veritable source for drug discovery the world over [19], and for some decades have played an important role in the management of diabetes especially in resource poor countries.

Alloxan acts as diabetogenic by the destruction of β-cells of the islets of langerhans and causes massive reduction in insulin release, thereby inducing hyperglycaemia [20]. Insulin deficiency leads to various metabolic alterations in the animals viz. increased blood glucosel, increased levels of alkaline phosphate and transaminases etc. [21].

Phytochemical investigation of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius as shown in Table 1 reveals the presences of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phlobatannin anthraquinones, phenol and cardiac glycoside and saponin. These secondary principles are known to be bioactive for the management of diabetes. It is well known that certain flavonoids exhibit hypoglycemic activity and pancreas beta cell regeneration ability. Thus, the significant antidiabetic effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius may be due to the presence of more than one antihyperglycemic principle and their synergistic properties [22].

Single dose intra-peritoneal (i.p) treatment of rats with alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg) caused an increase in the blood glucose. Ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius and glibenclamide were found to reduce the elevated glucose level significantly in alloxan induced diabetes animals during the 14 days treatment. This suggests the hypoglycaemic effect of the plant. As suggested by Ekpenyong et al [23] that normal protein level reflects normal synthesis while high level is common in high protein diet.

The concentration of total protein globulin, albumin and bilirubin may indicate the state of the liver and type of damage. Protein molecules that are regularly employed to assess the state of health of the liver are albumins and globulins (Total Proteins). The blood circulated albumin is the main carrier protein produced in the liver. The larger globulins are responsible for immunogenic activities [24]. Decreased serum albumin and globulin concentrations in the untreated diabetic rats suggests reduced synthetic function of the hepatic cells. Oral administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius, however, normalized the serum albumin and globulin concentration. This is a further proof of the protective potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius on the liver of diabetic rats.

Bilirubin is a useful index of the excretory function of the liver. It is an important breakdown product of blood with biological and diagnostic values [25] Elevated bilirubin is an indication of liver cell impairment. The gradual increase in the serum levels of unconjugated (total and conjugated) bilirubin in diabetic rats when compared with the normal control may be an indication that the rats had liver function impairment, resulting in diminished ability of hepatocytes to conjugate bilirubin. The insignificant decrease in total and conjugated bilirubin of both the serum and liver in all the treated animals suggest the ability of the plant extract to ameliorate liver impairment caused by diabetes induction.

significantly (p < 0.05) increased level of HDL was observed in diabetic rats treated with the plant extract at doses 400 mg/kg body weight and 800 mg/kg body weight and glibenclamide

Figure 7. Effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorus on liver and serum LDL-C and VLDL-C.Values are given as mean SD from six rats in each group. Values not sharing a common superscript differ significantly at p < 0.05 (Duncan's

The therapeutic cure for diabetes mellitus has remained elusive despite the discovery of an array of medications that can ameliorate the symtopms of the disease [18]. Phytotherapies have remained a veritable source for drug discovery the world over [19], and for some decades have played an important role in the management of diabetes especially in resource poor countries. Alloxan acts as diabetogenic by the destruction of β-cells of the islets of langerhans and causes massive reduction in insulin release, thereby inducing hyperglycaemia [20]. Insulin deficiency leads to various metabolic alterations in the animals viz. increased blood glucosel, increased

Phytochemical investigation of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius as shown in Table 1 reveals the presences of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phlobatannin anthraquinones, phenol and cardiac glycoside and saponin. These secondary principles are known to be bioactive for the management of diabetes. It is well known that certain flavonoids exhibit hypoglycemic activity and pancreas beta cell regeneration ability. Thus, the significant antidiabetic effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius may be due to the presence of

more than one antihyperglycemic principle and their synergistic properties [22].

compared to diabetic control rats.

levels of alkaline phosphate and transaminases etc. [21].

4. Discussion

Multiple Range Test).

66 Diabetes Food Plan

Liver enzymes e.g. alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine phosphatise level (ALP) were increased in diabetic rats which is responsible for the liver damage. The elevated serum level of these enzymes was significantly reduced by ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius treatment particularly at the dose of 800 mg/kg bw, suggesting the protective effect of the plant extract against diabetes- induced hepatocellular damage especially at high dose. The diabetic complications such as increased gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis may be due to elevated enzymes [26]. The restoration of transaminases to their normal levels also treatment also indicates revival of insulin secretion.

The kidney removes metabolic wastes such as urea and creatinine, the concentration of which are usually required to assess the normal functioning of different parts of the nephrons [27]. The serum creatinine and urea concentrations are widely interpreted as measures of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and are used as indices of renal function in clinical practice. The concentration of these metabolites increase in blood during renal damage associated with uncontrollable diabetes mellitus. On the contrary those treated with ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius effected decrease in creatinine and urea levels, indicating ameliorative effect of the plant extract on kidney functions in diabetic rats. This may suggest that the damage caused on renal function indices by the disease had been restored by the plant extract, thus the proper function of the nephrons at the tubular and glomerular level.

Inbalances in serum lipid levels are usual occurrences in a diabetic state [28]. Since changes in lipoproteins concentrations is an inherent property of diabetes mellitus, such changes are usually triggered by diabetes induced obesity and renal complications [29]. As observed in this study, administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius led to a reduction in cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations while it led to the normalization of high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in diabetic rats when compared to the untreated diabetic group. The serum concentration of cholesterol is usually elevated in diabetes, and such an increase is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The observed high concentration of serum cholesterol during diabetes is mainly attributable to pronounced mobilization of free fatty acids from the peripheral depots, because the hormone-sensitive lipase is usually inhibited by insulin [30]. Administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius to diabetic rats significantly decreased the plasma cholesterol level to near normalcy and therefore reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease [31]. An increase in the concentrations of LDL- cholesterol and reduced HDL-cholesterol as observed during diabetes are associated with raised risk of myocardial infarction [32]. Administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius led to an increased concentration of HDL-cholesterol and depleted VLDcholesterol levels which are characteristic of reduced risk of myocardial infarction. Convincing evidence from laboratory, clinical and epidemiologic data have confirmed that increased serum concentration of triglyceride is a standalone risk factor for cardiovascular complications. Hyper triglyceridemia is a characteristic condition observed in diabetics, in this study, treatment with ethanolic leaf extract of Corchorus olitorius has prevented the elevation of triglycerides, signifying that myocardial memebrane is intact and not damaged.

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