Comparative Assessment of Methanolic Extracts of Hog Plum ( Spondias mombin linn.) Leaves and Turmeric ( Curcuma longa L.) Rhizomes on Blood Glucose and Glycosylated Haemoglobin in Male Wistar Rats

Comparative assessment of methanolic extracts of Spondias mombin leaves and Curcuma longa rhizomes on Blood Glucose and Glycosylated Haemoglobin using male wistar rats as models was attempted. 90 rats divided into 9 groups of 10 rats each were used. Groups: 1: Untreated non diabetic; 2: Untreated diabetic; 3: diabetic + low dose (200mg/kg/b.w) Spondias mombin; 4: diabetic + high dose (400mg/kg/b.w) Spondias mombin; 5: diabetic + low dose (500mg/kg/b.w) Curcuma longa; 6: diabetic + high dose (1000mg/kg/b.w) Curcuma longa; 7: diabetic + low dose combined (200mg/kg/b.w) Spondias mombin and (500mg/kg/b.w) Curcuma longa; 8: diabetic + high dose combined (400mg/kg/b.w) Spondias mombin and (1000mg/kg/b.w) Curcuma longa; and diabetic + (0.6mg/kg/b.w) glibenclamide. Diabetes was induced intraperitonially using alloxan at 200mg/kg. Treatments with extracts were orally and for 42days. Blood was collected on day 43 by cardiac puncture for determination of blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin. A significant decrease in blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations was observed in all the treated groups compared to group 2 (p< 0.05). Groups 7 and 8 rats showed a significant reduction in blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin compared to groups 3 to 6 (p< 0.05). Spondias mombin apparently showed better anti-diabetic effects compared to Curcuma longa as seen amongst Groups 3 and 4 rats compared to Groups 5 and 6 rats. Result suggest that combined treatment with Spondias mombin and Curcuma longa may possess better anti-diabetic effects compared to administration of each singly. We recommend further studies in this regard.