Physicochemical, antidiarrheal and antidiabetic potential of super food (Moringa oleifera Lam.)

There is a long history of natural products for the treatment of infections and diseases. The objective of present study was to investigate the organoleptic, microscopic, physico-chemical, phytochemical, antidiarrheal and antidiabetic potential of leaf, flowering bud and stem bark of Moringa oleifera L. Macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical parameters and phytochemical screening were carried out. Diarrhea was induced with castor oil (10ml/kg), verapamil (3, 10 and 30mg/kg) were used as standard antidiarrheal drug and extract of Moringa oleifera at (100, 300 and 1000mg/kg) was used for treatment. Alpha glucosidase inhibitory assay was carried out by using acarbose (0.5mM) and extracts (5.0 mg/Ml). Diabetes was induced by alloxan (150mg/kg), while glibenclamide (10mg/kg) was used as standard drug, and extracts (at the doses of 500mg/kg) were used to determine the antidiabetic activity. Results showed the presence of primary and secondary metabolites, treatment at the dose of 1.0g/kg of leaf, flowering bud and stem bark showed 94 +/- 2.527, 85.42 +/- 5.460 and 84.58 +/- 6.138% protection respectively whereas verapamil (10mg/kg) showed 94.84 +/- 3.27% protection. Alpha glucosidase inhibition of stem bark (0.5mg/ml) was 95.43 +/- 1.47 and flowering bud 94.78 +/- 1.25 whereas acarbose (5mM) inhibition was 92.23 +/- 0.14%. Stem bark and flowering bud extract (500mg/kg) decreases the blood glucose level from 388.5 +/- 35.83 to 226.3 +/- 47.10 and 322.5 +/- 48.35 to 173.8 +/- 29.5 respectively whereas glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) decreases the blood glucose level from 320.7 +/- 22.9 to 146.3 +/- 17.7 and increases the body weight of the experimental animal. It was concluded from the results that stem bark has strong antidiabetic potential while leaves of the plant have promising antidiarrheal effect.