Phytochemical Composition and Biochemical Studies of the Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Brillantaisia guianensis P. beauv on Alloxan Treated Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

The present study was carried out on the phytochemical composition and biochemical studies of the leaf extract of Brillantaisia guinensis peuv on alloxan treated Wistar albino rats. The experimental rats were administered with 80 mg/kg body weight of alloxan, via the tail vein. After five days treatment with alloxan, the treatment with the extracts commenced. Extracts were administered orally at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg bw (both to normal and treated rats) for twenty-one days. Metformin, which served as a standard drug was administered at 50 mg/kg. Chromatographic analysis of the phytochemical content of the leaf extract, revealed the presence of flavonoids (30.7 mg/100 g), saponins (50.6 mg/100 g), phytosterol (6.22 mg/100 g), tannins (7.50 mg/100 g) and glycosides (29.3 mg/100 g). Compared to test and normal control, the extracts dose-dependently and significantly lowered (P<0.05) plasma glucose and triglycerides, during the experimental period. This study revealed the presence of pharmacologically bioactive compounds in the leaf extract and showed that the leaf extract had a dose-dependent hypoglycemic and  hypotriglyceridemic effect on the Wistar albino rats. The findings suggest a likely protective role of the extracts against hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia thereby useful in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus, obesity and other related cardiovascular diseases.