Comparative study of the hypoglycemic effects of coconut water extract of Picralima nitida seeds (Apocynaceae) and Daonil in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats

The study was designed to compare the hypoglycemic effects of coconut water extract of Picralima nitida seeds to that of Daonil in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. Twenty five albino rats weighing between 170 - 200 g were randomly divided into five groups after allowing the rats to acclimatize for seven days and were made diabetic by intraperitoneal administration of 150 mg/kg of alloxan. The rats were giving different volumes of the extract and Daonil as per their groupings. All the substances were given for five days by oro-gastric tube. The blood glucose level were measured daily in the rats. There was an initial inactivity in the rats following administration of the extract mixture and their appetite was low except for the control group. The blood glucose levels (in mmols/dL) of the rats at the start and end of the experiment for the groups were: control (9.6 +/- 0.1 to 9.2 +/- 0.1), coconut water only (11.5 +/- 0.3 to 6.2 +/- 0.1), aqueous extract of P. nitida seeds (12.4 +/- 0.1 to 5.8 +/- 0.2), coconut water extract of P. nitida seeds (11.8 +/- 0.2 to 4.2 +/- 0.1), and Daonil (10.5 +/- 0.4 to 4.3 +/- 0.1). Therefore, coconut water extract of P. nitida seeds have a significant hypoglycemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetes comparable to that of the Daonil, hence, it could be an effective adjunct in the management of diabetes mellitus.