Alstonia boonei Leaf Mitigated Deleterious Effects of Experimental Type-II-Diabetes-Mellitus against Pancreatic and Neurocognitive Functions

Abstract

The search for prompt, less toxic and economically affordable medical therapy has facilitated the increased investigation into the therapeutic potentials and applications of plants samples against common tropical ailments. This study was designed to investigate the reported link between experimental type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and neurocognitive decline and the justification for the use Alstonia boonei leaf in similar treatments. Experimental T2DM were treated with 100, 1000 and 1600 mg/kg BWT of the Alstonia boonei leaf and glibenclamide (100 mg/kg BWT). Biochemical analyses were used to determine effects on the pancreatic and neuronal indices of tissues functions; oxidative stress; excitation; and inflammation; blood glucose and insulin concentrations. The study revealed that T2DM and Alstonia boonei leaf affected the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase which is the regulating enzyme for the biosynthesis of dopamine. The oxidative and inflammatory stress exacerbated by T2DM was mitigated by a significant reduction of TNF-α and an increase of GSH, NP-SH, GPx, SOD and GST levels. Alstonia boonei leaf reversed the insulin resistance by the cells, with effective transduction of insulin signal and a corresponding reduction of circulating glucose. Alstonia boonei leaf demonstrated hypoglycaemic effect, and mitigated the neurodegeneration that ensued from the diabetic induction.