Anti-diabetic Analysis of Ruzu Herbal Bitters and Asheitu Adams Bitters Polyherbal Medicines in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Abstract

Diabetes is still one of the major prevalent diseases of this century despite the advancement recorded so far in the field of medicine. Its treatment, management and prevention with synthetic drugs globally are of great financial burden coupled with some adverse side effects. All these problems in addition to prediction that incidence of diabetes would rise by 2030 led to the formulation of different polyherbal medicines. However, empirical data to support usage of these polyherbs as alternative therapy to conventional hypoglycemic drugs are lacking. This study therefore examined antidiabetic analysis of Ruzu Herbal Bitters (RHB) and Asheitu Adams Bitters (AAB) polyherbal medicines in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in male Albino rats and the animals were treated with RHB and AAB polyherbs (15 or 30 mg/kg b.wt.) for 4 weeks. The relative expressions of pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1), insulin, intestinal glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2) genes were then determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Findings showed that blood glucose concentrations of RHB- and AAB-treated animals at week 3 and/or 4 did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from that of the control group, except 15 mg/kg AAB-treated group at week 3. Furthermore, RHB and AAB down regulated PDX-1 and insulin gene expressions but up regulated GLP-1 and GLUT-2 gene expressions in blood glucose concentration-dependent manner. Sequel to the observed decrease in blood glucose concentrations, and gene expression-regulating potential of the poly herbs, both RHB and AAB are premised to have anti-diabetic properties.