Antidiabetic and safety evaluation of Afya tea® (Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam.) in streptozotocin-rat model

Denis Zofou Denis Zofou; Faustin Pascal T. Manfo Faustin Pascal T. Manfo; Clautilde T. Mofor Clautilde T. Mofor; Petra Lum Petra Lum; Derrick N. Nebangwa Derrick N. Nebangwa; Jules-Clement N. Assob Jules-Clement N. Assob

Denis Zofou Pharmacology Unit, Medical Research and Applied Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon
Faustin Pascal T. Manfo Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
Clautilde T. Mofor Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon
Petra Lum Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Cameroon
Derrick N. Nebangwa Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Cameroon
Jules-Clement N. Assob Pharmacology Unit, Medical Research and Applied Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon

Abstract

Objective: The present work was set to evaluate the in vivo efficacy and safety of “Afya tea®”, a trademarked antidiabetic herbal preparation commonly sold in Cameroon.

Methods: The tea was acquired from local sale points and different concentrations and doses determined from the prescription by the manufacturer. The antidiabetic activity was assessed in wistar albino rats using both the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the subacute antidiabetic assay in streptozotocin-rat model. The safety was evaluated combining the in vitro (on LLC-MK2 Monkey kidney epithelial cell line) and in vivo acute toxicity (in mouse model) tests. The effects of Afya tea® were observed on fasting blood sugar (FBS), body weight, water and food intake, urine elimination, selected markers of liver and kidney functions, as well as lipid profile.

Results: The OGTT revealed a significant drop in blood glucose levels in rats treated with 84.6 g/kg Afya tea®, as compared to the control; together with drop in critical peak of blood sugar. The therapeutic effect observed was equally more consistent with the dose of 84.6 g/kg , resulting in significant recovery from STZ-induced diabetes in animals as reflected in the FBS level, body weight, food and water intake and urine elimination.

Conclusion: The present work confirmed the positive effect of Afya tea® on glucose tolerance, its subacute antidiabetic potential of this herbal preparation in sptreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, as well as its relative safety. Further studies including the study of the stability pattern and mechanism of action as well as clinical trials are warmly expected, to fully appreciate the suitability of this herbal preparation for treatment of diabetes mellitus in human.

Keywords: Afya tea®, Moringa oleifera, Diabetes

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