Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Alloxan-induced diabetes in experimental animals is a well-established model for studying diabetes and evaluating potential antidiabetic agents. Ocimum gratissimum, commonly known as scent leaf, has been traditionally used in managing diabetes due to its reported antidiabetic properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of methanol leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum on oxidative stress and biochemical parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Alloxan was used to induce diabetes in male Wistar rats, which were then treated with different doses of methanol leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum for 21 days. Blood samples were collected for the assessment of blood glucose levels, lipid profile, liver and kidney function markers, as well as antioxidant enzyme activities. The results showed that alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with methanol leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum exhibited significantly reduced blood glucose levels compared to the untreated diabetic group. Additionally, treatment with the leaf extracts led to improvements in the lipid profile, with reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels, while high-density lipoprotein levels were increased. Furthermore, the methanol leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum demonstrated hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects in the diabetic rats, as evidenced by the restoration of liver and kidney function markers towards normal levels. The antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly increased in the treated diabetic rats compared to the untreated group, indicating the potential of the leaf extracts in reducing oxidative stress associated with diabetes. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that methanol leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum possess antidiabetic effects evidenced by the improvement in blood glucose levels, lipid profile, liver and kidney function markers, and antioxidant enzyme activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications of Ocimum gratissimum in the management of diabetes and its complications.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

•  BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The use of Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract to treat Alloxan induced diabetic rat and its oxidative and biochemical parameter assessments.

            In Nigeria, especially in the southern part there is a consumption of plants extracts people consume. They also consume a lot of vegetable in their native diet and some of these plants are believed to cure some aliments. Ocimum gratissimum is one of the many found to lower glycaemia in Type-1 diabetes.

            Many components of food such as secondary plants metabolites have been seen to alter biological processes which may reduce the risk of some chronic diseases in human such as diabetes.

            Diabetes mellitus has its complications especially diabetes conditions among infected people, Ocimum gratissimum uses against various aliments has gained widespread acceptance in developing as well as developed nations (kolewale et al,. 2011). Diabetes mellitus is an important chronic metabolic disorder of public health concern, it occurs either as a result of pancreatic defects in insulin secretion or the failure of the effectively utilize secreted insulin or both. Hyperglycemia is a common consequence of uncontrolled diabetes, which may over time lead to serious damage to vascular tissue, heart, eye nerve and kidney.

            Plants with known and suspected therapeutic potencies have been longed used in the alternative and complementary medicine. Numerous scientific reports exist, describing the relatively low toxicity and effectiveness in selected plants in management of diabetes.

            Numerous scientific report exists, descending the relatively low toxicity and effectiveness of selected plants in the management of diabetes. It is unfortunate that a large number of those studies were conducted using either normoglycermeia or animal models.

 Inducing of diabetes using either >100mg/kg body weight of Alloxan into these animal models, with recent review showing that Alloxan was one of the most frequently used diabetogenic agent globally.

 High dose of the chemical are cytotoxic to the pancreatic beta cells giving rise to insulin deficiency.

•  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The statement of the problem in this research work is that the efficacy of Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract through assaying of biochemical parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

VISION: To determine the effect Ocimum gratissimum methanol leaf extract has alloxan-induced diabetic rats through assaying of biochemical parameters.

ISSUE STATEMENT: Diabetes mellitus has become one of the prevailing health cases people face today, with no or little knowledge on how it can be controlled and managed, it could worsen beyond control and as far as oxidative damage is concerned, it would multiple the generation of free radicals.

METHODS: Apart from modern drugs that can be used to control and manage diabetes, the use of Ocimum gratissimum menthol leaf extract was employed in other to determine the effect on alloxan-induced diabetic rats through assaying of biochemical parameter.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

1.3.1 AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of the methanol leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum on the oxidative and biochemical parameter of alloxan –induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Specifically, the study sort to:

1. Determine the effects of the extract on MDA level
2. Determine the effects of the extract on lipid profile
3. Determine the effects of the extract on antioxidant enzyme activity.