EFFECT OF ETHANOL-WATER EXTRACT OF CRINUM JAGUS ON GLYCEMIA REACTIVITY IN DEXAMETHASONE-INDUCED DIABETIC RAT MACAPOS 1

Crinum jagus is a plant traditionally used by the population of the western region of Cameroon in the management of diabetes. The effects of ethanol/water extract of C. jagus were evaluated on diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced on 6-8 weeks old wistar rats with high sugar diet (HSD) associated with dexamethasone (DXM) injection (25 µg/kg once after 2 days during 3 weeks) one month after the beginning of the HSD. Diabetic rats were treated with 150 mg/kg b.w. extract during 20 days. The extract effects were investigated on body weight gain, food and water intakes, fasting glycemia and insulin sensitivity, compared with glibenclamide. Diabetic rats were obtained after 8 weeks of induction, characterized by hyperglycemia (148.78 ± 3.35 mg/dL), significant body weight gain and insulin resistance. The extract of C. jagus significantly (P< 0.01) reduced the fasting glycemia in diabetic rats (-42.62 %). The extract remarkably (P< 0.01) and more than the glibenclamide improved insulin sensibility (+55.47 % vs +27.97 %). Diabetic rats treated with the extract exhibited significant body weight decrease and a slight food intake increase. The phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of antidiabetic substances such as triterpenes, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, anthocyanidines and coumarins. These results indicated that the DXM reduced the MACAPOS 1 diabetes induction duration to 8 weeks and also showed that the ethanol/water extract of Crinum jagus could have an antihyperglycemic activity and could improve peripheral insulin sensitivity. This might justify its traditional use in the management of diabetes.