Comparative Study of the Effects of Annona muricata and Tapinanthus globiferus Extracts on Biochemical Indices of Diabetic Rats

Introduction: Annona muricata and Tapinanthus globiferus (mistletoe) are medicinal plants used in traditional medicine to combat an array of human diseases. However, there is dearth of scientific prove for the activity of these plants in the management of non-infectious human diseases such as cancer, insomnia, hypertension, ulcers and diabetes. Method: The present study was designed to assess comparatively the effects of methanol extracts of Annona muricata (AME) and Tapinanthus globiferus (TGE) on biochemical indices of alloxan induced diabetic rats. The animals were allocated to eight (8) groups, group I were normal non-diabetic rats, group II (diabetic untreated group), group III treated with metformin alone, groups IV & V were diabetic rats treated with AME at dose of concentration 200 mg/kg BW & 400 mg/kg BW respectively, groups VI & VII were diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg BW & 400 mg/kg BW of TGE respectively. Group VIII were diabetic rats treated with AME + TGE at concentration of 200 mg/kg BW each. Concentrations of serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG) of alloxan diabetic rats, creatinine and urea were assayed after 21 days of the respective treatments. Results: Diabetic untreated rats had significant increase p<0.05 in TC, TG, urea and creatinine compared to normal control group as opposed to the significant decrease observed for HDL in diabetic rats. However, treatment of diabetic rats with AME and TGE significantly suppressed (p<0.05) the concentrations of TC, TG and creatinine when compared with the diabetic untreated rats. A similar trend was observed for the calculated atherogenic index of treated rats when compared with diabetic untreated rats. Interestingly, co-administration of AME + TGE improved the biochemical indices of diabetic rats better than using each plant separately. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that AME and TGE could offer some benefits in the management of diabetic complications especially with regard to cardiac and renal health.