In vivo Antidiabetic Activities of Aqueous Extract of Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Eng, Rhizophora racemosa G. Mey and Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn

Aims: Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Eng (Araceae), Rhizophora racemosa G. Mey (Rhizophoraceae) and Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn (Strelitziaceae) are used in traditional medicine in Guinea for diabetes management. The aim of this work was to test the antidiabetic activity of these plants and to determine their toxicity.

Material and Methods: Extemporaneous extracts based on these plants were tested for their acute toxicity, their effects in normoglycemic rats and rendered hyper glycemic by the oral route in comparison with the glibenclamide an antidiabetic agent. Swiss albino mice and Male Wistar rats were used respectively for acute oral toxicity and antidiabetic activity.

Results: This study showed that the administration of the 2000 mg / kg dose of dry extracts in mice showed no acute toxicity and adverse effect. At a dose of 400 mg/kg these three plants showed significant hypoglycaemia effect. The average blood glucose levels ranged from 111.2 ± 6.2 to 84.6 ± 6.7 mg/dL (p<0.001) for A. difformis, 110.6 ± 6 to 93.2 mg/dL (p<0.05) for R. racemosa and 99.6 ± 14.4 to 82.3 mg/dL (p<0.05) for R. madagascariensis.

Conclusion: The results obtained on the antidiabetic properties of these three plants corroborates their traditional uses in the management of type 2 diabetes in the Republic of Guinea.