ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF ONIONS (Allium cepa) ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterised by high blood glucose level and abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fat. The condition is characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia. Allium cepa leaf is a functional food used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The use of plants especially vegetables as antidiabetic remedies have added interest of joining two basic diabetes mellitus control factors: food and medication. The ethanol extract of Allium cepa leaf was investigated for antidiabetic effects using alloxaninduced diabetic wistar albino rats. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups; Group A rats were non-diabetic control. Diabetes was induced in groups B, C, D, E and F by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150mg/kg body weight). Group B were not treated and served as negative control group. Group C were treated with glibenclamide (5mg/kg body weight), thus served as postive control group. Groups D, E and F were treated with 200, 300 and 400mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively for a period of two weeks through intraperitoneal route. The effect of treatment with the doses of the extract and standard drug were studied on blood glucose level, total serum cholesterol and body weight. Allium Cepa extract produced a dosedependent significant reduction in the blood glucose level when compared with that of the control group. Significant total serum cholesterol reduction was observed at 300 and 400mg/kg. An observed decrease in body weight of the negative control group was recorded and significant increase for all other groups. The findings from this study indicate that the crude extract of Allium cepa leaf caused a significant hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats thus, validates its use in ethno – medicine for the control of diabetes mellitus.