Laboratoire de Botanique-Biodiversité, Département de Biologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005 Fann, Dakar, Senegal
The purpose of this study was to determine the hypoglycaemic effects in leaf and bark of Sclerocarya birrea, used in traditional medicine for diabetes. In addition, two extracts were prepared from this plant: hydromethanolic and hydro-acetonic. The experiments were carried out on normoglycemic and diabetic guinea pigs by injection of a single dose of glucose (4 g/kg of body weight). Phytochemical screening are carried out according to standard analytical methods. Polyphenols, tannins and flavonoids were the main phytochemical constituents of the extracts. The results showed that the oral administration of the different extracts of Sclerocarya birrea at doses of 500, 700 and 1000 mg/kg of body weight led to a significant reduction in blood sugar (p < 0.05), similarly to antidiabetic action of glibenclamide (10 mg/kg of body weight). Whatever the organ and the extraction solvent, the doses of 500 and 700 mg/kg of body weight induced dose-dependent hypoglycemia, just like glibenclamide, the glycemia of normoglycemic and hyperglycemic guinea pigs. These results show that the metabolites revealed in the extracts could be responsible for its hypoglycemic effects in glucose metabolism. Thus, supported by a complete chemical study with a view to isolating the active substances responsible for the antidiabetic effect in perspective, is possible to formulate from this plant a phytomedicine with potential for diabetes which make possible their uses by populations for treatment of diabetes.