Background: The fruit extract of
Dacryodes edulis
(
D. edulis), the African pear or plum, a tree indigenous to the humid tropics has been used
for managing wounds, skin diseases, sickle cell anaemia, dysentery and fever in some African nations. In South Eastern Nigeria, 'herbal doctors'
include its marshed fruit in decoctions administered to diabetic patients. However no scientific substantiation of their claim and use exist in
literature. Hence, the need to evaluate the antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic activity of hexane extracts of
D. edulis fruit in alloxanised animal
model.
Materials and Methods: Sub-toxic doses between 400 and 1600mg/kg were orally administered sub-chronically to alloxan-induced diabetic
rats for 15 days and compared to glibenclamide (2.5mg/kg). The glycaemia levels, body weights, lipid profile, blood urea, creatinine and liver
enzyme levels were measured. Basic histology of the pancreatic tissue was also performed to examine the effects on the pancreas as possible
mechanistic lead.
Results: Oral acute dosing of
D. edulis hexane extract decreased blood glucose levels, while sub-chronic treatment of the extract down-regulated
significantly hyperglycaemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, ALT and ALP levels. However, the HDL-C levels increased significantly.
Histopathological examination of the pancreatic tissues after sub-chronic treatment showed that glibenclamide and the highest dose of the extract
1600mg/kg restored the afore-damaged pancreatic β-cell architecture.
Conclusion: Our findings portend that
D. edulis hexane fruit extract possesses hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities as well as
restoration of the pancreatic architecture without any obvious untoward hepatic damages, suggesting that its use in the management of the
diabetes may be valid.
