(P26-049-25) Effects of Baphia nitida Lodd Plant Extracts on Selected Biomarkers of Type-2 Diabetes in Sprague Dawley Rats

Objectives: This study explored the effects of Baphia nitida Lodd whole root plant extracts on plasma glucose, lipids, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels using type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Sprague Dawley (SD) rat model.

Methods: Fifteen male SD rats were randomized into three groups: normal control (NC), positive (diabetic) control (PC), and intervention (INT). All groups consumed a high-fat diet (HFD) for three weeks. Subsequently, the diabetic control and intervention groups were administered a low-dose (35 mg/Kg) injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) and upon conversion, the intervention group received a daily oral dose of Baphia Nitida Lodd whole root extracts (225 mg/kg body weight), while the diabetic and normal control groups were given an equivalent amount of distilled water daily. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were recorded at baseline and biweekly until end of the study. At the study's endpoint, lipid profile, ABCC8 gene expression, and Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) levels were evaluated

Results: The intervention group exhibited a significant rise in FBG at all recorded timeline compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). ABCC8 gene was not expressed in nucleated blood cells. The INT group exhibited significantly lower mean total cholesterol compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The INT group triglyceride level was significantly elevated compared to the negative control (p < 0.006), but the increase relative to the positive control group was not statistically significant. The intervention group also showed decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) values that were not statistically significant. The mean TNFα levels were not statistically different across all groups.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Baphia nitida Lodd whole root ethanol extract increases and sustain blood glucose level. The extract is therefore not a good treatment for diabetes.

Funding Sources: This study was partially funded by the following entities: (1) Howard University Graduate School.