Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of Ceiba pentandra L. Gaertn in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn, commonly called silk-cotton tree, has been extensively used by traditional medicine practitioners in Northern and Eastern Nigeria in the control and management of diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hypoglycaemic and anti-hyperglycaemic effect of ethanolic extract of Ceiba pentandra bark in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. METHOD: Screening activity of the extract was carried out by OGTT. Diabetes mellitus was induced with streptozotocin and graded doses of the ethanolic bark extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, b.w.) were then administered to the experimentally diabetic rats. The blood glucose level was measured at different time intervals. RESULTS: The single dose study of C. pentandra extract at two different doses produced no significant hypoglycaemic effect in normal rats but C. pentandra (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased blood glucose level in diabetic rats. In OGTT, C. pentandra (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced elevated glucose level in normal and diabetic rats. In long term (21 days) study, C. pentandra (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased blood glucose level, total cholesterol and triglycerides level, prevented degeneration of liver and pancreas, and increased serum insulin level and liver glycogen content in diabetic rats. Acute toxicity study in rats did not show any signs of toxicity up to the dose of 2000 mg/kg b.w. CONCLUSION: The results reveal that the extract improved glucose tolerance in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Thus the study suggests that the C. pentandra bark extract could be beneficial in the management of type I diabetes.