European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL IMPACTS AND WEIGHT CHANGES OF AQUEOUS CARICA PAPAYA LEAF EXTRACT ON THE PANCREAS OF STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS

Idehen Iyore Charles*, Bankole Julius Kayode, Yibala Oboma, Asibor Ernest, Ogedegbe Adesua and Echekwube Marylyn Elileojo

ABSTRACT

The use of medicinal plants as complements or alternatives to orthodox medicines has been on the increase due to the accessibility, availability and low cost of these natural medicines. This study was carried out to investigate the impacts of aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaf on the pancreas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rat. One hundred (100) male wistar rats with weights ranging from 200-300g were used for this study. They were divided into five groups (I, II, III, IV and V) of 20 rats each. Group II, III, IV and V were given 60 mg/kg Streptozotocin freshly dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer (PH 4.5) in a volume of 1ml/kg body weight intraperitoneally to induce diabetes, while Group I served as non-diabetic controls. Group III, IV and V were given 0.75g/kg body weight, 1.5g/kg body weight and 3g/kg body weight of freshly prepared aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves respectively. Group I and II served as non-diabetic and diabetic control respectively. The treatment continued for 42 days, then the rats were anesthetized, and their pancreas were extirpated to be processed for light microscopic examinations. The blood glucose and the weight were also taken at baseline and during the treatment. The extract showed anti-hyperglycaemic activity as evidenced by significant decreases (p<0.05) in serum glucose levels in the diabetic rats treated with different concentration of aqueous extracts of Carica papaya leaves when compared with diabetic rats not treated. Our results also showed that the administration of aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaf in the treatment of diabetes is dose-dependent as more significant effects were observed in the diabetic rats treated with 3g/kg body weight aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves when compared with those treated with 0.75g/kg body weight and 1.5g/kg body weight. The histological section of the pancreatic islet area and diameter were bigger in aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves groups when compared with the islets from diabetic control rats. This study concluded that aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaf ameliorated pancreatic induced damage in the pancreas of Streptozotocin-induced diabetic adult wistar rats.

Keywords: Carica Papaya, Pancreas, Streptozotocin, Diabetes, Rats.