Biochemical Changes of Ethanolic Leaf Extract Psidum Guajava of on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is the commonest endocrine disorder that affects more than 100 million people worldwide (6% of the population) and in the next 10 years it may affect about five times more people than it does now [1]. Diabetes mellitus describes a metabolic disorder of multiple a etiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both [2]. It is a consequence of hereditary and environmental factors which its symptoms include polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia [3]. The disease becomes a real problem of public health in developing countries, where its prevalence is increasing steadily and adequate treatment is often expensive or unavailable. Nigeria, like most developing countries is richly blessed with different herbs, shrubs, and trees. These indigenous plants have been the earliest companion of mankind, providing food, shelter and serving humanity in curing different diseases and healing of injuries [4]. The quest for a reliable and affordable means of treating and management of diabetes mellitus has led to the venture into plant kingdom in search of antidiabetic medicinal plants. Plants used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus represent a valuable alternative for the control of this disease. Alternative strategies to the current modern conventional therapy of diabetes mellitus are urgently needed, because of the inability of existing modern therapies to control all the pathological aspects of the disorder, as well as the high cost and poor availability of the modern therapies for many rural populations in developing countries.

Some medicinal uses of Psidium guajava incudes anti- viral, anti-diarrhal, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties. Shakeera BM, et al. [1] posited the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic potentials of psidium guajava in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Chronic hyperglycemia during diabetes causes glycation of body proteins that in turn leads to secondary complications affecting eyes, kidneys, nerves and arteries. Kidney is the second organ most frequently affected by any compound after the liver. Thus, the present study was carried out to evaluate effect of Psidium guajava ethanolic leaf extract on the renal function status biomarkers and some biochemical in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat model.

Results

weight of extract and E was treated Streptozotocin and 5mg/kg body weight of metformin. Glucose level, levels of renal function status biomarkers and hepatic function biomarkers were determined at the end of the study (28 days).

Discussion

Plant-derived products lack significant side effects when administered properly. Therefore they are harnessed for the efficacies of bioactive compounds present in them that aids in treatment and management of ailments including diabetes mellitus [8]. Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder and a clinical syndrome characterized by inappropriate hyperglycaemia caused by a relative or absolutely deficiency of insulin or by a resistance to the action of insulin at the cellular level [9]. The present study was to ascertain the effect of ethanolic Psiddium guajava leaf extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, as it has been reported to possess flavonoid and terpenoids which may help to hasten the natural healing process and consequently improve glycemic control in diabetes. Table 1 shows the mean weight of experimental animals from Day one to fourteenth day of acclimatization. It shows progressive increase in weight of the albino rats which indicates that they are healthy, well fed and had no appetite impediment.

progressively throughout the study. Group B showed reduction in body weight. Group C revealed progressive increase in body weight till the fourth week of the study. Group D and Group E showed increase in body weight. There was a reduction of body weight in streptozotocin diabetic rats but this was reversed as increase in body weight of Psidium guajava leaf extract was observed, this increase was followed the same pattern as seen in metformin treated diabetic rats. This may be attributed to the ability of the extract to ameliorate diabetes.

Table 4 shows effect of Psidium guajava ethanolic leaf extract on glucose level (mg/dl) in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Group A shows glucose level within same range showing no significant increases while the glucose level of Group B (Diabetic rats) rose significantly. Group C, D and E followed same trend in which there was an initial sudden increase followed by significant reductions in the glucose level. Insulin deficiency occurs in streptozotocin induced-diabetic rats leading to alterations in the carbohydrate metabolism such as elevated blood glucose and reduced level of insulin release, by destroying the β- cells of the islets of Langerhans [10]. In our study we noticed that Psidium guajava ethanolic leaf extract reversed these effects bringing the glucose level to normal and its effect was also comparable to the observation found in metformin (a hypoglycaemic drug). This is an indication that the aim of treating diabetic patients which is to reduce the glucose level was achieved [11]. The ability of the plant to reduce the glucose level may be attributed to its phytochemical constituents such as phenols, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and carbohydrate as reported by Lincy et al. [12].

Table 5 shows the effect of Psidium guajava ethanolic leaf extract on renal function status biomarkers in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats [13]. Group B showed significant (p<0.05) increase in urea when compared with the normal control while Group C (200mg/kg of Extract), Group D (400mg/kg of Extract) and Group E (5mg/kg metformin) showed decreases in the levels of Creatinine when compared to normal control rats. Kidney is an important organ that maintains optimum composition of body fluid by acidification of urine and removal of metabolic wastes such as creatinine and urea. When the integrity of the kidney is compromised as in kidney diseases, high concentration of creatinine and urea is found in the blood [9]. Contrarily, there was reduction in this parameter in the Psiduim guajava treated group which can also be compared to the reduction observed in metformin treated group. This suggests that there was no significant impairment of the kidney excretory function.

Table 6 shows the result of effect of Psiduim guajava ethanolic leaf extract on serum liver function status biomarkers of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Group B (diabetic rats) showed significant increases in AST, ALP and ALP when compared to the normal control but showed reduction in the protein level. Group B showed but Group C and Group D as well as Group E shows significant reduction in AST, ALP and ALP and then increases in protein [14]. The increases of AST, ALP and ALP found in the diabetic rats are as a result of the fact that transaminases are active in the absence of insulin because of increased activity of amino acid in diabetes which accounts for increased gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis in diabetes [9]. In our study efficacies of Psidium guajava ethanolic leaf extract and metformin in reduction of the levels of AST, ALP and ALP were recorded. Increase in the Protein concentration decreased instreptozotocin-diabetic rats but on treating with the plant extract and metformin in group C, D, and E respectively an increase in protein was registered. This is an indication that the plant extract reversed the synthetic function of the hepatocytes cells of the liver which were destroyed and their function in turn impaired in the diabetic albino rats [15].

Conclusion

Conclusively, the study demonstrated that ethanoic leaf extract of Psidium guajava can reverse the hyperglycemia associated with diabetes mellitus, when compared with a known standard drug metformin. There is need for further researches which will be aimed at isolating and packaging the bioactive compounds responsible for this effect into finished pharmaceutical product.