Project Materials

SCREENING OF SENNA ALATA LEAVES FOR BIOCHEMICAL AND HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY

ABSTRACT

Through a quantitative analysis of the phytochemicals present and their impact on blood sugar levels and the histology of destroyed pancreatic islet cells, this study aims to justify the local use of Senna alata in the therapy of diabetes. The remaining Senna alata leaves were dried and ground into a fine powder, while 50g of fresh leaves were used for phytochemical and nutritional studies. 80% ethanol was used to extract the herb’s bioactive ingredients. Before giving the herb extract to the rats, it was reinstituted with regular saline. In this investigation, twenty-four wistar rats of both sexes weighing an average of 160g were employed. Three parallel groups of diabetic and non-diabetic rats were randomly selected from among the rodents. AN, BN, and CN were the names of the non-diabetic groups, whereas AD, BD, and CD were the names of the diabetic groups. Each parallel group was controlled by rats in groups A (AN and AD), which were given 0.4 ml of regular saline. Rats in groups C (CN and CD) received a daily subcutaneous injection of 5IU/kg body weight of human insulin, whereas rats in groups B (BN and BD) got single daily doses of 500 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic leaf extract of Senna alata via orogastric tube. Every rat was given free access to water and regular rat food. For twenty-eight days, the experiment was conducted. Pancreatic tissue was removed for histological analysis after the rats were killed. Haematoxylin and Eosin staining methods were used on histological sections. A single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 65 mg/kg body weight was used to produce experimental diabetes. The findings showed that different amounts of alkaloids, oxalate, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins were present. Blood sugar level also lowered in both the diabetic and non-diabetic groups and histology demonstrated regeneration of destroyed pancreatic islet cells. It can be extrapolated that Senna alata potentiates the regeneration of beta cells in the pancreas of diabetic rats and has hypogycaemic impact. Its strong phytochemical content may have contributed to these antidiabetic effects.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In addition to using plants for food and shelter, our ancestors also employed them to treat specific illnesses, a practice that has been practiced for many millennia (Akinyemi et al., 2000).

Because they are unable to produce their own food, humans and animals must rely entirely on plants to supply them with nutrients like vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and essential minerals that are necessary for growth, development, and healthy bodily functions (Selvi et al., 2012).

In addition to the nutrition that plants offer, humans found that eating certain plants benefited their health. As a result, plants began to be used medicinally, and it was found that some of them contained chemicals with therapeutic properties (Masuda et al., 2003).

The parts of plants that are used for medicinal purposes differ depending on the species and the location of the components that have medicinal properties.

The active component of some plants is found in their roots, while that of others is found in their leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers, or stem bark (Selvi et al., 2012).

Since 80% of people in developing nations use traditional medicine, which contains compounds derived from medicinal plants, the World Health Organisation (WHO) believes that medicinal plants would be the best source of a variety of drugs.

This is due to the growing use of plants for the production of natural products for maintaining human health, which has been observed over the past few decades. As a result, scientists are conducting more research to find more medicinal plants (W.H.O., 2006).

Senna alata, a tropical perennial herb that grows up to six feet tall and is a member of the fabaceae family, is one example of such a plant. Originally cultivated in South America, this plant is now found in different nations due to its therapeutic properties. In Nigeria, it is known as Rai-dore in Hausa, Asuwon oyinbo in Yoruba, and Omirima in Igbo. In India, it is called Dadmari (Arbonnier, 2004).

Senna alata is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of infections and diseases including ringworm, eczema, wounds, constipation, burns and food poisoning, hemorrhoids, inguinal hernia, intestinal parasitosis, syphilis and diabetes; and the leaves have also been reported to be useful in treating convulsion, gonorrhoea, heart failure, abdominal pains, oedema and also used as a laxative (Zhongguo, 2009 and Adebayo et al., 2001, ebayo et al., 2001).

According to reports, ethanol leaf extracts of the Senna alata plant exhibited high activity against dermophytes, such as Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporium gypseum, Microsporium canis, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which attack human skin and scalp (Owoyale et al., 2005).

Additionally, aqueous leaf extracts demonstrated greater activity against Escherichia coli than the ethanol extract (Timothy et al., 2012).

A variety of antibacterial activities were demonstrated by the methanol extracts of Senna alata leaves, flowers, stem, and root against Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, and Enterobacter aerogenes.

pneumonia due to Klebsiella, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Proteus mirabilis, and Proteus vulgaris (Somchit et al., 2003).

There is currently no effective treatment for diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic condition. The positive antidiabetic effects of many plant products have been used locally, but the majority have not been investigated to identify the bioactive ingredients that might be causing these effects.

Plants employed in traditional medicine have recently been the focus of the hunt for suitable hypoglycemic agents. Complex carbon hydrates, alkaloids, glycopeptides, amines, flavonoids, sulphur compounds, and inorganic ions are examples of natural substances that have antidiabetic properties.

There are several antidiabetic mechanisms, such as stimulating insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells, activating the regeneration of functional pancreatic beta cells, which increases the number of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, inhibiting insulinase activity, possessing insulin-like polypeptide

which mimics the action of insulin, interfering with the absorption of carbohydrates by plant fibre, and increasing glycogen storage. Senna alata is a stunning flowering shrub that is a member of the Caesalpiniaceae family of the genus Cassia. It is frequently referred to as candle bush.

Many plant parts have been utilised to treat a variety of illnesses. It has been stated that the leaves have hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Statement Of The Problem

Senna alata has a number of traditional uses that have been documented in various locations. The leaves are used as a mild laxative and are thought to be the most effective treatment for herpes in Indo-China and the Philippines. The freshly ground leaves are used to treat a variety of skin conditions in Guinea.

The leaves are used in Ghana to treat ringworm and sores on the skin or forehead. Among traditional remedies, this is one of the most successful therapies. Women also drink the boiled leaves to speed up the birthing process (Alalor et al., 2012).

Few studies from Nigeria have been published, despite the fact that Senna alata’s antibacterial properties have been extensively documented in the literature. The lack of knowledge about this plant is what makes this study necessary, and its importance cannot be overstated.

The purpose and goals of the Study

By examining the bioactive elements of the leaves and their impact on the pancreatic beta cells that have been damaged, this study seeks to substantiate the traditional use of Senna alata.

Particular goals consist of

i. To assess how well Senna alata leaf aqueous and ethanol extracts inhibit the growth of clinically significant microorganisms, including Trichophyton species, Aspergillus species, Alternaria species, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

ii. To promote the therapeutic application of plants in the management of microbial infections.