ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC AND ETHYL ACETATE EXTRACTS OF SOLANUM TRILOBATUM LINN IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism due to deficient action of insulin on target tissues resulting, from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both (Defronzo et al., 1992; Chait and Brunzell, 1996) . Diabetes mellitus may present with characteristics symptoms such as polyphagia, polydypsia, polyuria, blurring of vision and weight loss. Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This is because your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin, or not enough insulin, to help glucose enter your body’s cells – or the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it is used as fuel for energy so we can work, play and generally live our lives. It is vital for life. Glucose comes from digesting carbohydrate and is also produced by the liver. If you have diabetes, your body cannot make proper use of this glucose so it builds up in the blood and can’t be used as fuel. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes Occurs abruptly, characterised by an absolute deficiency of insulin due to a marked decline in the number of insulin producing beta cells (perhaps caused by the auto immune destruction of beta cells) even though target cells contain insulin receptors. Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin dependent diabetes and juvenile onset diabetes, as it most commonly develops in people under 20 years old though it persists through life, and requires periodic insulin injections to treat it. Although type 1 diabetes appears to have certain genes which make them more susceptible, some triggering factor is required e.g. viral infection, shock etc. Type 2 Diabetes It most often occurs in people who are over forty and overweight hence another name "maturity onset diabetes". Clinical symptoms are mild, and high glucose levels in the blood can usually be controlled by diet, exercise, and/or with anti diabetic drugs. Some type II diabetes have sufficient amounts of insulin in the blood, but they have defects in the molecular machinery that mediates the action of insulin on its target cells, cells can become less sensitive to insulin because they have fewer insulin receptors. 90% of all cases are type II. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Collection of leaves: The plant leaves was collected during the month of January and was identified parmacognostically by a botanist. Then powdered, weighed and stored in a clean, dry and air tight container. The powder was subjected to successive extraction with solvents n-hexane (n-hexane used to remove fatty substances) and ethanol. The present study was under taken to evaluate the anti diabetic activity of Solanum trilobatum linn, solanaceae family. Ethanolic and Ethylacetate leaf extracts of Solanum trilobatum linn were prepared successively. The acute oral toxicity study were carried out for ethanolic and ethyl acetate leaf extract of Solanum trilobatum linn using fixed dose method according to OECD guideline number. Anti diabetic activity produced in ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract of solanum trilobatum increase the level of Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL