Search

This is a phytochemical and zootechnical study on Physalis peruviana leaves in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. This was part of a scientific development program of plant resources used in Congolese traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in which individual and community consequences are well established. Different fractions with hexane, ethyl acetate and the residue were obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract of P. peruviana leaves. Phytochemical screening was focused on the usual reactions of characterization based on precipitation and coloration with general reagents. The diabetic conditions were induced in rats by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight) intravenously. The positive control group received glibenclamide (6.5 mg/kg body weight) and each test group received 100 mg/kg of body weight. Those groups were compared with a control group which received only a Tween 20 solution (1 ml per 100 g body weight). Zootechnical profiles were evaluated by weight monitoring as well as food and water consumption in rats. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthocyanins, mucilages, cardiac glycosides, coumarins and betalains in the hydroalcoholic extract and its fractions. A highly significant difference (P E‚ 0.001) of water consumption in opposition to the food intake and weight changes was observed. This study suggested the isolation and characterization of compounds from hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of P. peruviana L. and its fractions for an extensive antidiabetic investigation. Key words: Physalis peruviana, phytochemical, antidiabetic activity, streptozotocin, zootechnical parameters.

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being. In the last decade traditional medicine has become very popular in Cameroon, partly due to the long unsustainable economic situation in the country. The high cost of drugs and increase in drug resistance to common diseases like malaria, bacteria infections and other sexually transmitted diseases has caused the therapeutic approach to alternative traditional medicine as an option for concerted search for new chemical entities (NCE). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Cameroon Government has put in place a strategic platform for the practice and development of TM in Cameroon. This platform aims at harmonizing the traditional medicine practice in the country, create a synergy between TM and modern medicine and to institutionalize a more harmonized integrated TM practices by the year 2012 in Cameroon. An overview of the practice of TM past, present and future perspectives that underpins the role in sustainable poverty alleviation has been discussed. This study gives an insight into the strategic plan and road map set up by the Government of Cameroon for the organisational framework and research platform for the practice and development of TM, and the global partnership involving the management of TM in the country.

The stem bark of Eribroma oblongum (malvaceae) is used in traditional Cameroonian medicine to treat various metabolic illnesses including the management of hypertension but there is no scientific evidence to how relief is brought about. The present study was to evaluate the effect of the ethyl acetate extract of the dried stem bark of E. oblongum on arterial blood pressure and heart rate in normotensive rat (NTR) and their mechanisms of EAEO. The effects of ethyl acetate extract of Eribroma oblongum (EAEO; 10, 20, 30 mg/kg; i.v) was tested on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) of normotensive rat. The mechanism of EAEO (20mg/kg) was studied in the presence of atropine, yohimbine, propranolol, L-NAME or reserpine. At the end of the experiment, SBP and HR were recorded. EAEO (10-20 mg/kg) induced a significant hypotensive effect of SBP. The hypotensive effects of EAEO (20 mg/kg) were inhibited by pre-treatment of rats with atropine, reserpine, yohimbine and L-NAME. At the end of this study the result demonstrates that the hypotensive as well as the antihypertensive effects of the ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Eribroma oblongum. Our data validate the use of the extract in traditional medicine against hypertension. The effect on blood pressure is, at least in part, due to a modulation of the orthosympathetic nervous system and to the improvement of the antioxidant status. Further studies are from now needed to study the toxicity of Eribroma oblongum.