AN ANTI-DIABETIC POLY-HERBAL MEDICINE PREPARED FROM EXTRACTS OF ANNONA STENOPHYLLA, CITRUS LIMON AND ZINGIBER OFFICINALE

Background: Diabetes poses a burden on the limited health care delivery system. Current pharmacological anti-diabetic agents cause undesirable side effects and are very expensive. Herbal remedies offer the potential for alternative treatment strategies. This study was therefore conducted in an effort to formulate a poly herbal medicine for management of diabetes. Methods: A stenophylla root bark was extracted with aqueous ethanol (70%) and quantitative analysis for total phenolic content, total alkaloids and flavonoids was carried out on the dried extract. The hypoglycaemic effects of aqueous A. stenophylla root bark extract, powdered Zingiber officinale and powdered Citrus Limon peels was determined on alloxan-induced diabetic rats singly and in combinations over 14 days. Glibenclamide administered at 0.2 mg/kg b. wt was used as the positive control. Results: All the plants decreased plasma glucose levels in a dose-dependent manner. The glucose levels of diabetic rats treated with all the plants combined showed the greatest reduction (59.2%).  A. stenophylla and Z. officinale showed a glucose level reduction of 47.7%, A. stenophylla and C. limon (42.9%) whilst Z. officinale and C. limon (42.7%). The reductions in glucose levels were comparable to glibenclamide positive control which showed a 61% reduction. Conclusion:  Combining the three plants (A. stenophylla, Z. officinale and C. limon) led to the greatest reduction in blood glucose levels of alloxan induced diabetic rats. The formulation demonstrates more potential in combinational herbal medicines therapy in diabetes management.