TO EXAMINE THE EXTRACTS (LEAF, STEM AND ROOTS) OF ALSTONIA BOONEI ON THE ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC MELLITUS

TO EXAMINE THE EXTRACTS (LEAF, STEM AND ROOTS) OF ALSTONIA BOONEI ON THE ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC MELLITUS

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Throughout the world, many societies continue to rely on indigenous medicinal plants for basic health care (Farnsworth et al. 1985). Currently, 25% of modern medicines are derived from plants utilised by traditional medical practitioners (Cragg et al., 2005). Traditional medical systems have undoubtedly become a global hot topic.

Even though modern medicine is available in many industrialised nations, people continue to use alternative or complementary therapies, such as medicinal herbs. However, only a few plant species that produce therapeutic herbs have been thoroughly examined for their potential medical applications.

There are safety and efficacy data available for even fewer plants, extracts, active substances, and preparations that contain them. Tropical and subtropical Africa has 40-45,000 plant species with potential for development, with 5,000 of them being utilised medicinally (Van Wyk, 2008).

Despite its vast potential and diversity, Africa has only produced 83 of the world’s 1100 classic pharmaceuticals (Van Wyk, 2008). African countries are at a point where traditional medicine is valued more for its ability to produce other medicines than for itself.

In many circumstances, research projects and commercial applications resulting from that study have always relied on information provided by local communities and, in many cases, have reaped little profit from the research findings (Rukangira, 2004).

Millions of people in Africa rely on traditional healers and plant-based medicines for their health. The relative proportions of traditional practitioners and university-trained doctors to the total population in African countries are instructive.

In Ghana, for example, the Kwahu district has 224 individuals for every traditional practitioner, compared to approximately 21,000 for one university-trained doctor (Rukangira, 2004).

1.2 Justification of The Study

Plant medicinal value has grown in importance in recent decades, thanks in large part to the discovery that plant extracts include not only minerals and primary metabolites, but also a rich array of secondary metabolites with antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants inhibit the action of free radicals, which have been linked to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and the ageing process (Aruoma, 2003; Dasgu- pta and De, 2004; Coruh et al., 2007).

Traditionally, research on medicinal plants like Alstonia boonei has concentrated on the bioactivity of its chemical ingredients, ethnobotany, pharmacology, and taxonomy.

1.3 AIM

To assess some biological parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits treated with Alstonia boonei extracts.

1.4 Specific Objectives

1. To determine the uric acid content of plasma.

2. To determine bilirubin and proteins in plasma.

3. To establish the aforementioned criteria in the control group.

4. To compare the findings of the test and control individuals.

1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY.

To investigate the effects of Alstonia boonei extracts (leaf, stem, and roots) on diabetes mellitus caused by alloxan.