THE EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Gymnema Sylvestre ON BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL OF ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS (Rattus Norvergicus)

This work was carried out to determine the anti-diabetic effect of aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre on the blood sugar level of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. 25 experimental animals used were divided into five groups each containing five rats. Group 1 served as control rats fed with normal diet, group 2 served as control rats + extract (CE), i.e. non diabetic rats fed with extract, group 3 served as Alloxan-induced rats +extract (IE), i.e. diabetic treated with extract, group 4 served as Alloxan-induced rats + drug (ID), diabetic rats treated with synthetic drug, Glibenclimide and group 5 served as Alloxan-induced diabetic rats + normal diet, i.e. diabetic rats fed with normal diet. 250mg per kg body weight of aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre and 125mg per kg body weight of glibenclimide was administered to rats in groups, IE, CE and ID respectively for 28 days. On a daily basis, the blood sugar level of the animals was checked. The result of the blood sugar level is presented in this work as “average blood sugar level per week”. The findings from this work revealed that, diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre had a significant drop in blood sugar level. Diabetic rats treated with the synthetic drug also had a drop in blood sugar level, but not as fast as that of the extract. The non diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre maintained normal blood sugar level, possibly because the pancreatic beta-cells were not impaired