Njeri LK and Eliud NM Njagi
Diabetes mellitus causes significant morbidity, mortality, and diabetes related complications. Conventional drugs are used in management of diabetes mellitus but are costly, are not readily available and also have many side effects. Herbal plants used in diabetes mellitus management are believed to be cheaper and readily available. Piper capense is used traditionally in diabetes mellitus management but its efficacy has to be scientifically evaluated. The study’s aim was to investigate antidiabetic potential of aqueous root extracts of Piper capense in diabetic male albino mice. The antidiabetic potential of the extracts was screened in diabetic mice using oral as well as intraperitoneal routes. In the study, albino mice were put into eight groups comprising five mice each. For this purpose aqueous extract was administered at 25, 48.4, 93.5, 180.9, and 350 mg/kg body weight. 1IU/kg body weight dose of insulin and 4.6 mg of glibenclamide was used as a standard hypoglycemic agent for comparing the results. Blood sugar levels were measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 24 hours with the use of a glucometer. The data was then analyzed using ANOVA and post-ANOVA. The lyophilate of Piper capense phytochemical composition was determined by standard procedures. Piper capense extracts administered by either route at 25 mg/kg body weight, 48.4 mg/kg body weight, 93.5 mg/kg body weight, 180.9 mg/kg body weight and 350 mg/kg body weight showed antidiabetic activity. The phytochemical result showed that the aqueous extracts contained tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, and saponins. The antidiabetic activity showed could be due to the presence of some phytochemicals present which have antidiabetic activity.