Introduction:

Rotheca myricoides Hochst. Steane Mabb is a plant species used in traditional medicine for the management of diabetes in the lower eastern part of Kenya Kitui Machakos and Makueni Counties Kenya that is mainly inhabited by the Kamba community.

Objectives:

This study investigated the antihyperglycaemic antidyslipidemic and antihyperinsulinemic activity of the freeze-dried extracts of Rotheca myricoides Hochst. Steane Mabb RME in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methodology:

Type 2 diabetes was induced by dietary manipulation for 56 days via high fat- high fructose diet and intraperitoneal administration of streptozocin 30mg/kg. Forty freshly-weaned Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into the negative control high fat/high fructose diet low dose test 50mg/kg RME high dose test 100mg/kg RME and positive control Pioglitazone 20mg/kg groups. Fasting blood glucose and body weight were measured at weekly intervals. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on days 28 and 56. Lipid profile hepatic triglycerides fasting serum insulin levels and serum uric acid were determined on day 56.

Findings:

Results:

The RME possessed significant antihyperglycemic FBG: 6.50.11mmol/l negative control vs. 4.620.13mmol/l low dose test vs. 5.250.15mmol/l in high dose test vs. 4.330.09mmol/l positive control: p0.0001 and antihyperinsulinemic effects 1.840.19 negative control vs. 0.690.13 low dose test vs. 0.830.17 high dose test vs. 0.690.10 positive control: F 3 360.6421: p0.0001. The extracts also possessed significant antidyslipidemic effects LDL levels: 3.520.19mmol/l negative control vs. 0.330.14mmol/l low dose test vs. 0.340.20mmol/l high dose test vs. 0.330.01mmol/l positive control: p0.0001.RME significantly lowered plasma uric acid levels as well as hepatic triglycerides and hepatic weights. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the observed pharmacological effects are mediated via the modulation of Peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma receptor.

Conclusion:

The freeze dried extracts of Rotheca myricoides possessed significant antihyperglycemic and antidyslidemic effects. In addition it lowered serum uric levels as well as hepatic triglycerides and hepatic weight. These results appear to validate the traditional use of this plant species in the management of diabetes mellitus

Author(s):

Focus County(s):

Makueni County

Programme Area(s):

Non-Communicable Diseases

Research Priority Area(s):

Disease Domain(s):

Diabetes

Publication Date: 15.Nov.2019

Conference Title:

Venue: