Responses of Liver and Pancreatic Cells to Ethanolic Seed Extract of Afromomum Melegueta in Alloxan‐Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Nosiri Chidi Ijeoma , Okereke Stanley Chukwuma , Chukwudoruo Chieme Sunday , Nwankwo Chijindu , Anyanwu Chukwuma 
Published: November 2023

Afromomium melegueta seed is used traditionally as a spice in food, eaten during entertainment in West‐Africa. It is also used among some West‐African (Nigerian) tribes in the management of diabetes mellitus, even though not clinically evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the scientific and anti‐diabetic activity of Afromomium melegueta in rats. In doing so, the histopathology of the liver and pancreatic cells of Alloxan‐induced diabetic rats were studied. Extraction of the seed was done by Soxhlet method. Twenty five Wistar rats weighing 120 – 200g were categorized into five groups (A, B, C, D and E) rats. Each group contained 5 rats. Alloxan (150mg/kg b/w) was used to induce Diabetes in groups B, C, D and E by intraperitoneal injection after an overnight fast. Group A and B serving as normal and Diabetic controls respectively, were given 0.2ml normal saline while groups C, D, and E received daily oral treatments of Metformin (500mg/kg b/w), 200 and 400mg/kg b/w of the extract respectively for 10 days. All the rats received food and water ad libitum. The glucose levels (mg/dl) of the rats were measured on day 0, 3 and 10 hence, glucose levels were estimated on these days using a One Touch Glucometer by drawing blood from the tail of all the experimental animals. After expiration of the extract administration, rats were anaesthetized using Chloroform, while their peritoneal linings were stripped open to excise the liver and pancreas which were consequently prepared for histopathological studies using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining techniques. The effects of the extracts were compared with the reference drug, Metformin and the normal control. The result of this study showed hypoglycemic activity. The blood glucose levels of Alloxan treated rats (diabetic control) increased about 3 folds from 98 – 297mg/dl on the 10th day as compared with the control rats. Blood glucose levels in diabetic rats treated with the seed extract and metformin were raised nearly 3 folds as compared to their respective normal control rats on the 3rd day after induction of diabetes. The increase in glucose levels in diabetic rats declined sharply after daily oral administration of the ethanol seed extract of A. melegueta and Metformin. When glucose levels were compared between diabetic control and extract treated animals, blood glucose levels were found to decrease sharply from 243 – 138mg/dl on the 10th day after oral feeding of 200mg/kg, from 256 – 114mg/dl on the 10th day after oral feeding of 400mg/kg seed extract. Metformin treatment on the other hand decreased blood glucose levels on the 10th day from 297 – 104mg/dl.

The result of this study showed hypoglycemic activity, reversal of liver damage and regeneration of the β‐cells of the pancreas by the seed extract and reference drug compared with the diabetic control. The extract from seeds of Afromomum melegueta has shown that it possess anti‐diabetic and tissue‐protective effects on rats, thus providing a pharmacological basis for its folkloric use in the management of Diabetes Mellitus.

Support or Funding Information

Private (Self)