Anti-diabetic activity of hydro-ethanol extract of mature (yellow) <i>Carica papaya</i> leaf on streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Diabetes is a metabolic disease, caused by significant abnormalities in insulin secretion or action on receptors. Many bioactive compounds from medical plants have demonstrated anti-diabetic efficacy with fewer side effects than synthetic medicines. This study was aimed at assessing the anti-diabetic effect of hydroethanol extract of mature (yellow) Carica papaya leaf on streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Forty-eight Wistar male rats were placed into six groups of eight animals per group: With the exception of Group A (normal control), all other groups were injected once intraperiotonially with streptozotocin, at a dose rate of 60 mg/kg body weight. Group B were untreated; Group C rats were treated with 100 mg/kg metformin, while Groups D, E, and F received 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 750 mg/kg of the extracts, respectively, for 14 days. The rats’ blood sugar levels were assayed as well as their body weight. Histopathological examination of tissue sections from the rats’ pancreas was also conducted. The results showed a significant decrease in the blood sugar levels of animals treated with 250 and 750 mg/kg body weight, while animals treated with 500 mg/kg body weight of the extract reversed the hyperglycemic condition to normalglycemic; likewise, improvement in body weight was observed in the group treated with 500 mg/kg of the extracts. The result from the histological evaluation of the pancreas correlates with the biochemical findings. Treatment with various concentrations of the extracts led to a moderate preservation of the pancreatic beta-cells. This study suggests that; mature (yellow)Carica papaya leaf has hypoglycemic potentials.