Abstract

The present study demonstrates the postprandial hypoglycemic effects of methanol root extract of Mirabilis jalapa. Alloxan induced diabetic rats were treated with 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 9 days at 12 hourly intervals. The experiment was designed to assess both fasting and 2 hour postprandial blood
glucose levels. Lipid profile and liver function biochemical analyses were conducted using serum obtained from the experimental animals sacrificed after 10 days. The results showed a marked difference in blood glucose levels postprandial in the diabetic group treated with the extract (DTM) (11.02 ± 1.42 mmol/L) when compared with the diabetic untreated group (DU) (19.80 ± 5.37 mmol/L). Similar trends were observed for the fasting blood glucose which remained elevated in the DU group throughout the experiment but was maintained at comparable levels (4.70 – 6.82 mmol/L) between healthy control group (HU) and all other groups treated both with extract and standard drug metformin. Triglyceride levels of diabetic groups treated with the extract were also observed to fall within comparable limits with the HU group (30.79 ±4.76 – 65.95 ± 2.42 mg/L). In conclusion, treatment with methanol root extract of Mirabilis jalapa suppresses hyperglycemia postprandial and probably promotes slow progression to dyslipidemia in experimentally induced diabetes in rats.

Key words: Mirabilis jalapa, Diabetes mellitus, Hypoglycemia, metformin