Chemical Composition, Antioxidative and Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity of Combined Seed Extracts of Xylopia aethiopica and Trichilia emetica in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

The chemical composition, in vivo antioxidative and antihyperglycemic activities of aqueous and ethanol seed extracts of combined Xylopia aethiopica and Trichilia emetica in a ratio of 1:1 mixture was studied in alloxan- induced diabetic wistar rats. Twenty-five wistar rats weighing between 100-150g were used. They were divided into five (5) groups, Normal control (received 1ml of distilled water), Negative control (received 100 mg/kg body weight of alloxan only), Positive control (2.5 mg/kg body weight of glibenclamide) and extracts treated groups which received 300mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of combined Trichilia emetica and Xylopia aethiopica seeds (ATX) and ethanol extract of combined Trichilia emetica and Xylopia aethiopica seeds. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg body weight of alloxan for 21 days. The phytochemical composition conducted using a GC (Buck Scientific-GC M910, USA) of the combined seeds extracts of Xylopia aethiopica and Trichilia emetica had varying composition of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, terpenoids, tannins and steroids. Acute toxicity studies showed no sign of toxicity and death recorded of the relatively high doses of 3000mg/kg body weight of aqueous and ethanol seed extracts administered. Blood glucose concentration showed significant (p<0.05) decrease when compared to the alloxan treated group. There was significant (p<0.05) reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and significant (p<0.05) increase in enzymic (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and non-enzymic glutathione (GSH) antioxidants compared to negative control groups. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that 300mg/kg body weight of aqueous and ethanol extracts of combined Trichilia emetica and Xylopia aethiopica seeds exhibited antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Combination of the various bioactive components found in the seed extracts may have contributed significantly to these activities and could be considered as potential therapeutic agent in the management of hyperglycemia.