The solvent partitioned purified fractions of the hydro-acetone root bark extract of the African breadfruit (
Treculia africana
Decne) were evaluated for hypoglycemic activities in normal and diabetic albino rats. Fasting blood glucose levels were estimated by the use of a glucometer at pre-determined intervals after oral administration of the test extracts/fractions. Results revealed that the test fractions have only a slight effect on blood sugar level of normal rats. On short term and chronic administration in diabetic rats however, diethyl ether-soluble (DEF) and the water-soluble (WSF) fractions significantly reduced the fasting blood sugar levels (p<0.05) at differing rates when compared with the control group of animals. The diethyl ether soluble fraction (10 mg kg
-1 dose level) was found to exhibit the highest activity giving 69.4% reduction in blood sugar level (at 240 hours) which was in comparable range with the reference standard glibenclamide (0.5 mg kg
-1) which reduced blood sugar levels by 65.8% below the initial baseline values.
