Hypoglycemic Effect of Emilia coccinea Leaf Extract in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Full abstract

Read the full abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and associated metabolic disturbances. This study investigated the hypoglycemic effect of Emilia coccinea leaf extract in alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. Fifty adult male Wistar rats were assigned to five groups and treated orally with E. coccinea leaf extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight for 14 days, while normal and diabetic control groups received the vehicle. Fasting blood glucose and body weight were assessed, while qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were performed on the extract. The extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids. Final fasting blood glucose was 294.8 ± 16.1 mg/dL in the diabetic control group compared with 95.2 ± 1.2 mg/dL in the normal control group. Treatment with E. coccinea extract reduced final fasting blood glucose to 213.3 ± 8.6, 178.6 ± 8.9, and 139.1 ± 7.0 mg/dL at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively, representing reductions of 27.6%, 39.4%, and 52.8% relative to the diabetic control. One-way ANOVA showed a significant difference in final fasting blood glucose among the groups (F(4,41) = 66.404, p less than 0.001). The extract-treated groups also showed better preservation of body weight compared with the diabetic control. These findings indicate that E. coccinea leaf extract exhibited hypoglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, with the greatest effect observed at 400 mg/kg. The findings support the potential of E. coccinea as a source of bioactive compounds with glucose-lowering activity, although further studies are required to identify the active constituents and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.