Abrus precatorius (Fabaceae) is a plant well known for its use in traditional medicine in the management of diabetes mellitus. The whole plant was extracted via cold maceration using distilled water. DM was induced in rats using alloxan (150 mg/kg i.p). Diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each. The first 2 groups received the extract (100 and 400 mg/kg) respectively, the 3rd, glibenclamide (5mg/kg), while the last received distilled water (2ml/kg), i.e the untreated diabetic rats. A fifth group comprised of non-diabetic rats given distilled water (2ml/kg); control rats. All administrations were done orally for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose was evaluated on days 0, 1, 7 and 14. Blood samples were also obtained and analysed for HDL, LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Abrus precatorius produced significant (p<0.05) reduction in the fasting blood glucose of diabetic rats from day 1 through 14 by both doses in comparison with the untreated diabetic rats. This effect was most prominent on day 7 by the 400 mg/kg dose (p<0.0001) and compares favourably with glibenclamide (p<0.0001) which produced a similar blood glucose lowering effect. The HDL was significantly (p<0.05) increased following treatment with the 400 mg/kg dose in comparison with the untreated diabetic and control rats. Other parameters were not significantly affected on treatment with both doses of the extract. The plant possesses blood glucose lowering effect, with the added advantage of an increase in the HDL level and thus a useful remedy in the management of diabetes mellitus.
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The effect of Abrus precatorius (100 mg/kg) on the fasting blood glucose of diabetic rats
