Inès Christelle Assemian^1,, Éric Kévin Bolou², Don Josette Agre³, Fafadzi Charlotte Ehon¹

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aqueous extracts of Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae), Aframomum melegueta (Zingiberaceae), Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae) and Irvingia gabonensis (Irvingiaceae), designated AEXa; AEAm; AEPn and AEIg, respectively, on glycaemia in mice in order to contribute to the valorisation of their use in traditional medicine. In acute toxicity study: a total of 36 male mice (20-30g) were divided into 12 batches of 3 mice each, with three batches per extract. The animals in the control batch (batch 1) received distilled water, while those in batches 2 and 3 received 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight of all the four extracts via oral gavage for 14 days. In glucose tolerance test, 18 male mice (20-30g) were divided into 6 batches of 3 mice namely control and tested group which received an oral dose of aqueous extracts and glibenclamide at doses of 1 ml/100 g body weight (bw) and 2.5mg/100g body weight (bw) respectively for 125 minutes. Phytochemical screening was performed using chemical reactivity. Qualitative phytochemical tests carried out on all the aqueous extracts revealed the presence of numerous secondary metabolites, including polyterpenes, polyphenols, alkaloids, quinone compounds and saponins. Acute toxicity studies showed that these extracts were not toxic at doses of 2000 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg body weight, nor did they cause any significant variation in the weight of the treated animals. AEPn and AEAm extracts significantly reduced the hyperglycaemia induced by the glucose solution, with an effect comparable to that of the standard antidiabetic drug glibenclamide. However, AEXa and AEIg had no significant effect on blood glucose levels in mice. The Results showed that A. melegueta and P. nitida had a great therapeutic potential and justify the use of these two plants in traditional medicine, particularly in the treatment of diabetes.

Aqueous extracts, antihyperglycemic effect, medicinal plants, diabetes, toxicity study