Hypoglycemic potentials of ethanol leaves extract of black pepper (Piper nigrum) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The effect of ethanol leaves extract of Piper nigrum on some biochemical parameters in alloxan induced diabetic rats, was carried out. The graded doses of ethanol leaves extract of this plant was fed to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for a period of 21days and its effect on some biochemical parameters on the blood serum of the rats were assayed. Thirty (30) male albino rats were divided into six groups: normal rats (group I), diabetic untreated rats (group II), diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (group III), diabetic rats treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of ethanol leaves extract (group IV), diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg body weight of ethanol leaves extract (group V) and diabetic rats treated with 300 mg/kg body weight of ethanol leaves extract (group VI). The result reviewed significant (p< 0.05) decreases in fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels at day 7, 14 and 21 of the treated groups when compared to group 2 (diabetic untreated). There was a dose dependent non significant (p> 0.05) decrease in sorbitol concentration in group IV when compared to group II while the glycosylated hemoglobin also had a non significant (p> 0.05) decrease in all the treated groups when compared to group II. The result of this study indicates that ethanol leaves extract of Piper nigrum has hypoglycemic tendencies in diabetic conditions.