ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic condition. It is largely marked by high blood sugar levels and is caused by substantial anomalies in insulin secretion and/or insulin action on receptor sites. Primarily identified by an elevated blood sugar level. A full recovery from diabetes has never been documented, and it is true that there is no cure for the disease. A lot of bioactive compounds that have been extracted from medicinal plants have demonstrated antidiabetic action that is very effective with few side effects than synthetic medicines often used. Considering this, the study was aimed at assessing the anti-diabetic effect of hydroethanol extract of mature (yellow) Carica papaya leaf on streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Phytochemicals, minerals and vitamin analysis was conducted on the plant. Forty-eight (48) Wistar rats were placed into six groups of eight animals per group: With the exception of Group A (normal control), all other groups were injected once intraperiotonially with streptozotocin, at a dose rate of 60 mg/kg body weight. Group B rats were untreated, Group C rats were treated with 100 mg/kg metformin, while Groups D, E, and F received 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 750 mg/kg hydroethanol extracts of mature (yellow) Carica papaya leaf, respectively. The crude extract was administered to the animals orally for 14 days. The rats‘ blood sugar levels were assayed with a fine-test glucometer. The liver function, kidney function, lipid profiles, oxidative stress markers and haematological parameters were assayed using standard methods. Histopathological examination of tissue sections from the rats‘ vital organs was also conducted. Results from the plant extract analysis showed that mature (yellow) Carica papaya leaf is a rich source of phytochemicals, mineral and vitamins. At the end of the administration period, there was a significant improvement in the body weight of the diabetic animals. There was also a significant decrease in fasting blood sugar levels of animals treated with 250 and 750mg/kg body weight when compared to the diabetic untreated group, while animals treated with 500 mg/kg body weight of the extract reversed the hyperglycemic condition to normalglycaemic when compared to the normal control group. A statistically significant result was also obtained from the results of markers of oxidative stress, blood, liver, and kidney functions, and also lipid profile. Histopathological findings observed in the present study were supportive and in line with the biochemical evaluation The reaearch has potentially revealed the anti-diabetic effectiveness of mature (yellow) Carica papaya leaf and its role in treating diabetes and its related complications, just as the fresh (green) Carica papaya leaf earlier reported in the literatures
