Optimal control of chronic hyperglycemia prevents both micro and macro vascular complicationsââ?¬â?\na leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic subjects. This study was undertaken\nto give credence to the traditional use of Newbouldia laevis leaves in the treatment of diabetes\nmellitus (DM). Dichloromethane-methanol (1:1) extract (DME) of N. laevis leaves was prepared by\ncold maceration. Separation of DME into column chromatographic fractions yielded the n-hexane\nfraction (HF), ethylacetate fraction (EF) and methanol fraction (MF). The extract and fractions\nwere evaluated for antihyperglycemic activity in alloxanized diabetic rats. The results showed\nthat the oral administration of extract and fractions (250, 500, 1000 mg/kg) caused a significant\n(P < 0.5) and dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose level in diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic\npotency after 24 h was in the order MF (methanol fraction; 56.31%) > DME (dichloromethane/\nmethanol extract; 36.19%) > EF (ethylacetate fraction; 20.70%) > HF (n-hexane fraction;\n10.09. The methanol fraction, which showed the highest potency in oral glucose tolerance test\n(OGTT), was further separated into column chromatographic sub-fractionsââ?¬â? \n\nctions.\nThese sub-fractions were evaluated for antihyperglycemic activity. Sub-\n \n\n \n\n \n\n significant (P > 0.05) reduction in blood glucose level after 24 h.\nSub-fraction F4 (50, 100, 200 mg/kg), however caused a significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent\nreduction in blood glucose level. The reduction at 200 mg/kg dose of F4 (74.57%) was significantly\n(P < 0.05) higher than that of glibenclamide (58.04%). These findings suggest that leaf extract and\nfractions of Newbouldia laevis possess antihyperglycemic activities and can be the basis for the\nfolk use N. laevis in management of diabetes mellitus.
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