Antidiabetic Properties of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) Aqueous Leaf Extract on Alloxan-induced Diabetes in Albino Rats

Abstract

The study investigated the antidiabetic property of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) aqueous leaf extract on alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar Albino Rats. A total of 37 rats weighing 120-150g were used for the study. Twelve (12) rats were acclimatized for five days and acute toxicity study of the extract was carried out, while twenty five (25) rats were acclimatized for seven days and separated into five (5) groups of five (5) rats each; the normal control (NC) group, the diabetic control (DC) group, two (2) test groups and a standard group. The rats were fed with commercial pelletized rat feed and water ad libitum. All groups, except Normal control, were induced with diabetes intraperitoneally by a single dose of 150mg/kgb.wt of alloxan monohydrate. The two test groups were respectively treated orally with 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg.bwt of aqueous leaf extract of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) daily for 21 days. The standard group was treated with 250mg/kg.bwt of Glucophage (Metformin) daily for 21 days. Blood glucose level was measured at the end of the experiment, and the results were statistically analyzed and expressed as mean and standard deviation. The result revealed that the blood glucose levels of the treated rats were significantly (P<0.05) reduced by both the extract and the metformin. The 500mg/kg.bwt of the extract showed a higher efficacy than the 250mg/kg.bwt of the extract, but it (the 500mg/kg.bwt of the extract) has a comparable effect with metformin. Therefore, the result shows that Medicago sativa leaf aqueous extract has antidiabetic effect on alloxan-induced diabetes in albino rats, in a dose dependent manner.