ABSTRACT
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) which is one of the traditional available medicinal plants, a precious spice, is a member of Mirtaceae family which has been used for centuries as food preservative and medicine because of its antioxidant properties. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of methanolic extract ofSyzygium aromaticum as an antidiabetic potential on streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Diabetes was induced through a single intraperitoneal injection of a freshly prepared streptozotocin (Sigma-Aldrich Germany) solution of normal saline at a dose of 55mg/kg body weight. The rats were then kept with free access to food and water to prevent severe hypoglycemia. The rats (n-24) were divided into 6 groups, and acclimatized for 2 weeks and induced, after 72hours of induction of group (1 to 4), the glucose levels were measured using glucometer. The glucose level of the rats rose above normal indicating diabetes. Group 1 was given 50mg/kg/ bwt of methanol extract, group 2 was given 100mg/kg /bwt of methanol extract, group 3 was given 150mg/kg /bwt of methanol extract, group 4 is negative control (induced and not treated), group 5 is positive control (not induced), group 6 administered 5mg of Glibenclamide. The treatment was carried out for 21days after which the rats were weighed and sacrificed, their blood was collected into a sample container and centrifuged at 3000rpm to obtain serum. The result of phytochemical analysis shows that Syzygium aromaticum (clove)contains glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, reducing sugar, flavonoids, tanins, eugenols and terpenoid. The results showed the plasma activities of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT levels of experimental rats exposed to the extract do not have significant side effects on the internal vital organs hence is relatively safe for consumption. The results revealed the HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol and triacylglyceride are relatively stable and normal when treated with methanol bud extract of S. aromaticum indicated that it does not have destructive side effects. The results showed that S. aromaticum extract reduced the content of urea and creatinine in serum of diabetic rats. It could be deduced from the study that methanol extract of S. aromaticum is therapeutically potent to evoke a hypoglycemic response.
