Study of the Antidiabetic Activity of the Ethanol Extracts of the Leaves and Juice of the Fruits of <i>Morinda citrifolia</i>

The present study aims to evaluate the effect on blood glucose of the ethanolic extract of the leaves and juice of <i>Morinda citrifolia</i> (rubiaceae) leaves and fruit in a model of type 2 diabetes. After maceration in ethanol (95%), followed by filtration, the resulting extract is concentrated using a rotary evaporator to remove the extraction solvent. The juice extract is obtained by pressing, followed by filtration. The resulting filtrate is subjected to a series of extractions with ethanol and then concentrated using a rotary evaporator. The extracts are tested in normoglycemic rats in a glucose tolerance test, as well as in type 2 diabetic rats. They had virtually no effect on the basal blood glucose levels of normoglycemic rats, with values of 0.85 ± 0.03 vs 0.78 ± 0.035 g/L and 0.87 ± 0.04 vs 0.76 ± 0.015 g/L respectively at T0 and T4h and at oral doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for the ethanol extract of the juice. For the ethanol extract of the leaves, the values were estimated at 0.815 ± 0.04 vs 0.66 ± 0.015 g/L and 0.792 ± 0.025 vs 0.695 ± 0.03 g/L respectively at oral doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg. The tested extracts showed antihyperglycemic activity in a glucose tolerance test. Indeed, at oral doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg of ethanolic extracts of the leaves and juice, the hyperglycemic peaks after glucose administration (4 g/kg orally) were reached at 1.80 ± 0.1 and 1.52 ± 0.16 g/L, respectively, at baseline (T0), then at 1.29 ± 0.25 g/L and 1.45 ± 0.41 g/L at 30 minutes (t30min), compared to 2.03 ± 0.28 g/l in the control group. Furthermore, the juice extract exhibited antihyperglycemic effects in a model of alloxan-induced insulin secretion disorder. Indeed, at a dose of 50 mg/kg orally, blood glucose, after eight (08) days of observation, were 1.5 ± 0.51g/L vs 3.96 ± 0.40 in the control group (physiological saline) and 1.9 ± 0.94 in the group treated with glibenclamide. The compounds contained in the leaves and fruits of <i>Morinda citrifolia</i> exhibit anti-hyperglycemic properties. These results are explained by the presence in the extract of chemical compounds such as flavonoids, whose role in modulating sensitivity and regulating carbohydrate metabolism has been demonstrated in previous studies.