Anti-diabetic Activity of Aqueous Extract of Anacardium Occidentale (Linn) Stem Bark in Normal and Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark in both normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Alloxan-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats were administered orally with aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark at 400 mg/kg for 28 days, after which the blood glucose, total protein, albumin, marker enzymes, lipid profile and some haematological indices were determined and compared with the normal control. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of blood glucose, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL), total protein, albumin, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) of the diabetic untreated rats. Oral administration of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for 28 days to diabetic rats resulted in a reversal of the above diabetic conditions. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark revealed the presence of alkaloid, balsam, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid, phenol and terpenes/steroids. The results from this study suggest that the aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark used in the study possesses anti-diabetic activities and could be used for the management of diabetes and associated metabolic alterations.