Journal of Biochemistry International

Mimosa pudica and Cissampelos pareira are perennial subshrubs and creeping herbs respectively which have been reported to have potency in curing various diseases in traditional medicine, including diabetes mellitus. This study aims to evaluate the anti-diabetic property of Mimosa pudica, Cissampelos pareira and their combinations in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The rats were fasted overnight for 16 hours and diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 150mg/kg alloxan monohydrate. Acute toxicity test (LD₅₀) was determined in two phases using Lorke’s method. Diabetes was checked at three days intervals using One Touch Glucometer and test strips. Lipid profiling was done using standard diagnostic methods. Low doses of M. pudica, did not show any sign of toxicity in the animals, high dosage showed signs of toxicity. Low doses of C. pareira, did not show any sign of toxicity in the animals while high dosage showed sign of toxicity and death was observed after twelve (12) hours. The lower doses of the combination, did not show any sign of toxicity in the animals, higher doses showed signs of toxicity.  The control group and the groups that were administered Mimosa pudica and Cissampelos pareira and their combinations showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in their body weight after 21 days of treatment compared to diabetic untreated. Throughout the period of study, the diabetic untreated control rats showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in fasting blood glucose level. The percentage decrease in the fasting blood glucose concentration of the treated groups when compared to the initial fasting blood glucose (FBG) after 21 days, Group F (100mg/kg C. pareira) recorded 65.83% which accounts for the highest percentage reduction. The animals treated with M. pudica and C. pareira and their combinations showed a significant reduction in the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) when compared with that of diabetic untreated control. In conclusion, M. pudica and C. pareira and their combinations showed significant antidiabetic activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results of the fasting blood glucose levels indicate improvement in glucose metabolism, reduced weight loss, and managing blood glucose levels in diabetic models.