Effect of Justicia insularis T. Anderson Leaf Extract on Alpha Glucosidase and Alpha-Amylase Activities in Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a global health challenge, necessitating the need for alternative treatments. Justicia insularis T. Anderson, a medicinal plant in African traditional medicine, known for its anti-diabetic potential was investigated for its inhibitory potential on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes of rats. The leaf extract (150,300, and 450 mg/kg) of Justicia insularis, was investigated in vivo for inhibitory effect on alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes using starch, sucrose and maltose as substrates. Acarbose was used as reference drug. Blood glucose levels of rats, post administration of the substrate and extract concurrently, were monitored over 3 h as a parameter to measure the inhibitory potentials of the extract. The leaf extract non - dose-dependently caused significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood glucose levels of treated rats with the various substrates used. The results suggest that the leaf extract of Justicia insularis has the potentials to inhibit alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase in rats. The phytochemicals present in the leaf of Juticia insularis may have been responsible for the observed effects.