Author(s): Ogbonnia SO, Okoh Ginikachukwu, Ezemenahi SI, Okeke AI and Duncan OTA

Abstract: Background: The discovery that plants could serve as indispensable therapeutics weapons against various pathogenic and physiological ailments has made them a sine qua non to human and animal lives. Bridelia ferrugihea is one of such plants extensively employed by traditional herbalists in Nigeria. Objectives: This study investigated the oral acute toxicity and in vitro inhibitory effects of different solvents leaf extracts of B. ferrugihea. Also evaluated were the antioxidant activities, postprandial and hypoglycaemic effects of B. ferruginea leaf extract. Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated in Swiss albino mice, fed with extract doses of 1.0 to 20.0 g/kg body weight, observed for 72hr (Acute toxicity study). The crude extract and fractions of Bridelia ferruginea leaf were tested for enzyme inhibitory effects at different concentrations. Forty Wister rats were induced diabetes with saline alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kgbwt) and were randomly assigned to eight groups and treated with the extract doses the mixture and reference drugs for 30days. The effects of the extract on weight, plasma glucose and other biochemical parameters were evaluated using standard procedures. Results: Acute toxicity studies showed that animals treated with different doses survived beyond 24hrs.Significant difference (p≤ 0.05) in IC50 of reference drug, and fractions were observed. Methanol and n-hexane extracts inhibited α-glucosidase significantly (p≤ 0.05).Conclusion: In the study Bridelia ferruginea leaf extract demonstrated to have potential antidiabetic activity supporting the traditional claim. It also demonstrated in vitro the inhibition of enzymes of α-amylase and α-glucosidase involved in carbohydrate metabolism.

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