| dc.description.abstract | Varieties of plants, including Cymbopogon citratus, are traditionally used in controlling
hyperglycemia by either stimulating insulin secretion, inhibition α- Glucosidase or α-amylase
activity. Cymbopogon citratus leaves were studied in this study to elucidate the effects of
actively fractionated fraction from crude extract in lowering blood glucose in diabetic mice.
The C. citratus powder were extracted by cold maceration using ethanol. Fractionation was
done by Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC). Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was
performed for both crude extract and fractions. Diabetes was induced in mice by
intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate (170 mg/kilogram/body
weight) which interferes with insulin secretion. The mice were treated with ethyl acetate
fraction once daily at 400 mg/kilogram body weight dose for the period of 20 days. Fasting
blood glucose (FBG) and weight were then recorded from mice in days 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20.
Acute toxicity done by Lorke’s method. The difference between means of two population
groups was considered significant at p<0.05 by One-way ANOVA. Results were expressed as
mean ± SD. Significance hypoglycemic activity was shown by ethyl acetate. No mortality
was observed at 5000 mg/kilogram body weight dose but sleeping and tremor were observed
at a 1000 - 5000 mg/kilogram body weight. Phytochemical screening of ethyl acetate fraction
showed presence of alkaloids, saponins, antraquinone, phenol and tannins. Good
hypoglycemic effect and safety results from ethyl acetate fraction suggest that C. citratus
extracts are against insulin-dependent hyperglycemia. Isolation and testing of active
ingredients from the C. citratus extract are thus warranted. | en_US |
