Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a prevalent non-communicable
disease, is a metabolic condition involving defective pancreatic -cells
and/or insulin resistance. Researchers are presently exploring traditional
medicinal plants to identify alternatives for treating diabetes due to the
various disadvantage of current anti-diabetic medicines. Objective: The
present study evaluated the anti-hyperglycaemic effects of ethanol extracts of
five medicinal plants (EEMPs) (Gynura nepalensis, Glochidion
thomsonii, Clerodendrum splendens, Clerodendrum infortunatum and
Xanthium strumarium) which are traditionally used as an ethnomedicine to treat
diabetes and numerous other health problems. Methods: High-fat fed (HFF)
obese rats were used to perform acute in vivo tests, including oral
glucose tolerance, feeding test, metabolic studies, and gastrointestinal motility
using BaSO4 milk solution. Priliminary phytochemical screening were performed to
discover the presence or absence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids,
glycosides, flavonoids, and reducing sugars in extracts. Results: Oral
administration of ethanol extracts (250 mg/kg, body weight), along with glucose
(18 mmoL/kg body weight), ameliorated glucose tolerance (p
0.05–0.01). In addition, the extracts improved gut motility (250 mg/kg;
p 0.05–0.001), as well as reduced food intake during the feeding
test (250 mg/kg; p 0.05–0.001). Phytochemical screening of these
medicinal plants depicted the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins,
saponins, steroids and reducing sugars. Conclusions: Phytochemicals such
as flavonoids, tannins and saponins may be responsible for the glucose-lowering
properties for these plants. Additional research is warranted to fully identify
the bioactive phytomolecules and mechanistic pathways that might lead to the
development of a viable, cost-effective type 2 diabetes therapy.