In vivo Studies on the Phytotherapeutic and Fertility Effects of Dracaena Arborea Extract in Alloxan-induced Type 1 Diabetic Male Rats

Aim: This study was designed to explore and exploit the phytotherapeutic and fertility effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Dracaena arborea in type-1 Alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The phytotherapeutic effects of Dracaena arborea on hematological parameters, appetite, spermiogram, histological architecture and histomorphometrics (stereology) of testicular and/or pancreatic tissues of treated and untreated rats were carried out.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, between October, 2012 and February, 2013.

Methodology: 24 healthy normal male rats were recruited for this study. They were divided into four groups in a randomized trial; with group A consisting of non-diabetic healthy rats that received only the vehicle (0.5 mg/kg of 2% acacia solution); while group B, C & D was injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of Alloxan monohydrate (ALX) at 100 mg/kg prior to DAE treatment. Groups C and D were subsequently administered DAE orally 72 hours post administration of ALX, at daily doses of 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg respectively.

Results: ALX (100 mg/kg) was found to induce type 1 diabetic conditions in the rats, demonstrated by the significant increase (P < 0.05) in the glucose levels, and a decline in appetite (water and food intakes). Conversely, administration of DAE at 100 and 300 mg/kg revealed significant dose and time- dependent increase (P < 0.05) in glucose tolerance and appetite (water and food intakes) in DAE treated groups compared to the untreated or ALX treated only group. Significant normalization (P < 0.05) of red blood cell count, packed cell volume and Hemoglobin levels were also observed in diabetic rats treated with the 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg DAE. In addition, testicular and pancreatic histopathological profiles of both DAE treated groups show evidences of appreciable normalization of ALX-induced pathology.

Conclusion: Our findings indicates that DAE may offer great therapeutic benefit in the treatment of type-1 diabetes mellitus and normalizing testicular dysfunction or infertility in diabetic patients.