Physicochemical and Anti-Diabetic Effect of the Crude Leaf Extract of Mallotus oppostifollous (Euphorbiaceae) in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice

Background: Diabetes mellitus results when there is an imbalance in the production, metabolism and regulation of insulin and blood glucose respectively, in the human body. This study investigated the fresh leaf microscopy and chemomicroscopy, phytochemical, acute toxicity and the anti-diabetic potentials of Mallotus oppostifollous using the mice diabetic model. Methods: Mallotus oppostifollous was extracted using the cold maceration method with absolute methanol. The acute toxicity (LD 50) of the crude extract was determined in mice using Lorke’s method. The antidiabetic studies were conducted using the standard protocol of alloxan induced diabetic mice. Results: The findings showed that no toxicity was observed up to 5000 mg/kg doses of the crude extract. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins, steroids and terpenoids. The crude extract of Mallotus oppostifollous decreased blood glucose level significantly (P