Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical constituents and determine the hypoglycemic effect of methanol leaf extract of Phyllantusamarus in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced after the rats were fasted for 12 h with a single dose of 120 mg/kg body weight of alloxan. The effects of the extract on body weight and blood glucose level were determined. Alkaloids, saponins, taninns, flavonoids, glycosides, reducing sugar, phlobatanins and phenolics were found to be present in the leaf extract. The fasting blood glucose level of all the treated groups significantly reduced compared to the diabetic not treated group. The body weight for the non-induced treated group increased significantly while that for the induced and treated groups decreased significantly compared to their initial bodyweights. Phyllantusamarus leaf extract possess the potential of reducing blood glucose level and maybe useful as an anti-diabetic agent.