ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MANGO LEAF (MANGIFERA INDICA) IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia which initiates acute oxidative stress and therefore a dysfunction of various organs. The leaf of Mangifera indica (mango) is used in traditional medicine as it is highly rich in bioactive constituents that claim therapeutic effects on diabetic pathology but its mechanism as either an antioxidant or organ-protector is not fully established. In this respect, this paper sought to explore the antioxidant property and protective capacities of the ethanol extract of leaves of Mangifera indica regarding hepatic and renal functions in streptozotin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The numbers of male Wistar rats in each of the five groups were 30, to be divided into Normal Control, Diabetic Control, Diabetic + M. indica extract and Diabetic + Metformin (150 mg kg -1). The induction of diabetes was done through the administration of a single dose of 60 mg/kg chosen intraperitoneally as STZ. Therapies were done orally during 21 or more days, and the level of fasting blood glucose during weekly intervals was observed. Appropriate biomarkers were assessed upon sacrifice namely: superoxide dismutase (SOD) as an indication of antioxidants, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which is a hepatic index, and serum creatinine and urea which are hepatic and renal indices respectively. The Diabetic Control group exhibited high levels of oxidative stress, represented by a strong regression of the SOD activity and increased levels of creatinine and urea indicative of renal dysfunction and dysfunction of hepatic ALP respectively. The application of ethanolic extract of Mangifera indica dramatically increased the levels of SOD activity to the normal levels similar to what was seen in the metformin group. Nefroprotective effects were also imparted by the extract that resulted in significant decrease in urea levels and a tendency towards creatinine normalisation. Also, hepatoprotective potential was observed with the stabilisation of ALP activity. These results confirm the effectiveness of the ethanolic leaf extract as a biomolecule in diabetic rats induced with STZ that can be attributed to its bioactivity components that enhance the endogenous antioxidant defence system and prevent the oxidative stress caused by diabetes. The research justifies the traditional use of the mango leaves and the potential use as an adjunctive cure to counter the effects of diabetes complications..