ABSTRACT

Alterations in serum enzyme activities of normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats on administration of oral doses of ethanolic extract of Globimetula cupulata leaves were investigated in 6 groups of rats (5 rats per group). Test groups were made diabetic with intraperitoneal injection of alloxan and treated with 450mg and 900mg/kg body weight of the leaves extract. Two non-diabetic groups were also administered with 450mg and 900mg/kg body weight extract. The levels of serum enzyme activities were examined in all 6 experimental groups. Enzymes that were examined include: Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In diabetic rats, enzyme activities were significantly reduced (p<0.01) by 0.96-78.23% on consumption of the extracts, with greater effect exhibited by the 900mg/kg extract. In non-diabetic rats, enzyme activities were reduced by 0.19 – 17.95% on consumption of the leaves extract. Histological Studies shows that the extract had no adverse effect on the liver and heart although there may be a possible toxicity effect in the heart as the does increases as shown in the histology of the non-diabetic groups: this results suggest that ethanolic extract of  G. cupulata can be utilized in the management of various ailments such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, among others without adverse effects on the liver and heart if a standard dose is set up and followed closely.