article · Exploration of Drug Science
This research evaluates the medicinal properties of leaf extracts from Xymalos monospora in managing diabetes, testing traditional healing claims. In an animal study involving 63 male Wistar rats with dexamethasone-induced diabetes, treatments were administered using aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg over 15 days, alongside metformin as a reference. Both extracts led to measurable decreases in fasting blood glucose levels, with the aqueous formulation demonstrating reductions of up to 35.9 percent. The 200 mg/kg aqueous extract also lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides by over 30 percent, reduced atherogenicity indices, and improved hepatic glycogen storage. Although reductions in tumor necrosis factor alpha were observed, they were not statistically significant. The findings support the antidiabetic and lipid-regulating potential of the plant extracts in an experimental model.
Diabetes remains a widespread health challenge often managed with traditional plant therapies. By providing experimental evidence on how Xymalos monospora leaves influence blood glucose, lipid levels, and cardiovascular risk indicators, this work helps validate ethnobotanical treatments and identifies botanical candidates that could support metabolic health.
This work represents early-stage, preclinical research that could interest pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developers seeking plant-based antidiabetic agents. Significant laboratory research, histopathological evaluation, and human clinical testing remain necessary before any therapeutic formulation can be considered for practical or commercial use.
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Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a serious public health problem, and the condition is managed using herbal medicine by many African traditional healers. This study aimed to provide scientific evidence on the effects of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Xymalos monospora (X. monospora) leaves on some biochemical parameters in diabetic rats. Methods: This experiment included 63 male Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced for 10 days by intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (16 mg/kg) in overnight fasted rats. The diabetic rats were treated with aqueous (100 and 200 mg/kg) and ethanol (100 and 200 mg/kg) extracts of X. monospora leaves and metformin (40 mg/kg) for 15 days. Fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, atherogenicity indices (Castelli’s Risk Index, Atherogenic Coefficient, Atherogenic Index of Plasma), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and hepatic glycogen were evaluated. Results: Treatment with the aqueous extracts at 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced fasting blood glucose by 29.2% (p = 0.016) and 35.9% (p = 0.009), respectively. Also, the ethanol extracts at 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced fasting blood glucose by 20.7% (p = 0.038) and 31.2% (p = 0.027), respectively. The aqueous extract (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations by 31.5% (p = 0.017) and 30.7% (p = 0.023), respectively. There was a significant reduction in atherogenicity indices (p < 0.05), and liver glycogen levels improved. The extracts reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, but this was not significant (p > 0.05). However, histopathological studies were not carried out, and the above findings may not directly translate to clinical efficacy. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the oral administration of aqueous and ethanol extracts of X. monospora leaves has significant antidiabetic effects, including a decrease in fasting blood glucose, improvement of serum lipid profile, and increased glycogen storage.
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DOI: 10.37349/eds.2025.1008136
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