Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: October | Volume: 7 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 65-77
Effect of Crude Extract of Khat (Catha Edulis) On the Plasma Glucose Level of Normoglycemic and STZ Induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats
Demeke Ashencho Debecho1, Yekoye Abebe2, Daniel Seifu3, Tesfaye Tolessa4
1St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Department of Physiology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2Department of Medical Physiology, 3Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
4Department of Medical Physiology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Corresponding Author: Demeke Ashencho Debecho
ABSTRACT
Khat is chewed traditionally in Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and Kenya. In Ethiopia, khat chewing is now becoming an everyday substance of abuse for the general population. Clearly, knowledge about the effects of cathinone and khat chewing on plasma glucose and insulin levels is very sparse and controlled studies need to be undertaken in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of crude extract of Catha edulis on blood glucose level of normal and STZ induced type 2 diabetic rats. Randomized experimental study was conducted for four consecutive weeks to determine the effects of crude extract of Catha edulis on plasma glucose level of 16 normal and 24 diabetic male Wistar rats(N=40). One experimental protocol was used in this study. Diabetic rats in group I were treated with 450mg/kg of crude extract of Catha edulis (8rats per group).Diabetic rats in group II were treated with Glibenclamide (5mg/kg) and was used for comparison(8rats per group). Diabetic rats in group III were treated with distilled water which served as controls. Normal rats in group IV were given 450mg/kg of crude extract of Catha edulis (8rats per group) and normal rats in group V were given distilled water as a control. Oral administration of aqueous extract (450mg/kg) of Catha edulis in diabetic rats reduced the blood glucose level from 296.8±42.8 to 96.7±7.4 (67.4%) (p<0.01). Administration of aqueous extract (450mg/kg) of Catha edulis in normal rats reduced the blood glucose level from 112.4±4.27 to 61.0±4.3 (45.7%)(p<0.01). A administration of aqueous extract (450mg/kg) of Catha edulis in diabetic and normal rats caused reduction in body weight from 304.81±14.46 to 237.37±12.28 (22.1%) (p<0.01) Results of present study showed that oral administration of crude extract of Catha edulis exert a hypoglycemic effect in normal and STZ induced type 2 diabetic rats. The study found that crude extract of Catha edulis showed a significant reduction in body weight of normoglycemic and STZ induced Type 2 diabetic rats. Further studies to isolate different active components of Catha edulis to elucidate the exact mechanism of action so as to develop it as a potent antidiabetic drug is recommended.
Key words: Catha edulis, Crude extract, Wistar rats, plasma glucose, weight gain/loss, Diabetic Mellitus