DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF NEWBOULDIA LAEVIS (OGIRISHI) LEAF FRACTION ON HISTOLOGY OF THE PANCREAS IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder where in human body does not produce or properly uses insulin, a hormone that is required to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. Absence or reduced insulin in turn lecads to persistent abnormally high blood sugar and glucose in tolerance. Since time immemorial, medicinal plants have aimed to been explored for the treatment and management of diabetes. This study determine the effect ct of Newbouldia laevis leaf fraction on histology of the pancreas in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Twenty-four Wistar albino male rats were utilized, distributed across six groups, each consisting of four rats. Group I served as the normal control (1.e. were neither inducted nor treated), group 2 as the positive control (were inducted but were not treated) and group 3 as the standard control (were inducted and treated with the standard drug: glibenclamide). Groups 4, 5 and 6 received doses of l100, 200 and 400mg/kg b.w of the Newbouldia laevis leaf fraction. The treatment lasted for 14days, during which the histological examination of the tissues of the pancreas of wistar albino rats was assessed using the method of Drury et al., (1967). Group 1 shows normal histomorphology of the endocrine pancreas with normal pancreatic islets. Group 2 show pancreatic islet with marked vascular degeneration and necrosis of normal morphology of the endocrine pancreas, admixed with eosinophilc necrotic debris. Group3 shows a reduction in the number and sizes of the pancreatic islets. Group 4 shows a reduction in the number and sizes of the pancreatic islets. Some of the islets are also necrotic with fibrosis. Group 5 showing a marked proliferation of the a-cells in the pancreatic islets shows with less abundant B-cell located at the centre of the pancreatic islets. Group 6 Normal sized pancreatic islet cells with seemingly proliferation of the a-cells. However, multifocal areas of necrosis of the acinar cells of the pancreas were observed. The findings indicated significant increase in insulin levels and the restoration of normal pancreatic histoarchitecture in diabetic rats treated with Newbouldia laevis leaf extract. This suggests that n-hexane fraction of Newbouldia laevis possesses potential as ananti- diabetic agent.