Glucose Lowering Effect of Horseradish Tree (Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaf Decoction in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice.

Introduction: The study was conducted to determine the glucose lowering effect of horseradish tree leaf decoction (HTLD) in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Methods: The leaves of the Institute of Plant Breeding Moringa 3 (IPBM3) strain of horseradish tree were used in this study. The median effective dose (ED50) of IPBM3 HTLD was determined using normal Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice for 14 days and the computed ED50 was administered once, twice and thrice per day for 28 days via gavage in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Fasting blood glucose level (FBGL), body weight, feed intake and water intake were determined weekly. Thin layer chromatography and in vitro glucose lowering activity experiments were also done to determine the major polyphenol found in IPBM3 HTL with glucose lowering activity. Results: Administration of the ED50, 417 mg/20 mL/ kgbw, once, twice and thrice per day for 28 days significantly reduced the mean FBGL of diabetic mice by more than 50% and the reduction was statistically comparable with the metformin-treated group. Mean body weights and feed intakes were normal and statistically comparable for all groups. Mean water intakes were slightly higher than in the non-diabetic control group. The major polyphenol in IPBM3 HTLD was found to be quercetin. The in vitro glucose lowering activity experiment showed that both petroleum ether and water extracts of IPBM3 HTL have glucose lowering activity similar to standard quercetin. Conclusion: The present results show that IPBM3 HTLD possesses glucose lowering activity and offers potential for use in the management of diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]