Lethal dose Examination and Effect of Different Part Extracts of Ageratum conyzoides L on Hematology and Serum Electrolytes of Streptozotocin Induce Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease condition caused by decreased insulin production in the pancreas or as a result of the inability of insulin to act on target tissues that activate the absorption of blood glucose. This subsequently leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most recorded form of diabetes. It accounts for about 80% to 90% of all recorded forms of the disease. The use of plant medicines is a very common practice since ancient times and is considered a much safer and less expensive therapeutic strategy for the management and treatment of various diseases including DM. This study aims to investigate the antidiabetic effect of Ageratum conyzoides as claimed by herbal practitioners and to provide scientific evidence to back up the claim that the plant possesses antidiabetic activity. Standard procedures were deployed in the aqueous extraction of the different parts (leaf, flower, stem, root and all parts) of the plant. A lethal dose of the plant was determined using Lorke’s method. Subsequently, diabetes was induced into albino Wistar rats using streptozotocin at 55mg/kg. 40 rats weighing 180g to 240g were divided into eight groups A to H, and groups B to H were induced with diabetes. Groups A and B were labeled normal and diabetic respectively. C was treated standard drug (Metformin) at 1000mg/kg and groups D, E, F, G, and H were with treated flower, leaf, stem, root, and all parts extracts respectively at 2000mg/kg. Treatment in all groups was done for 28 days after which the rats were sacrificed and assayed for hematological and serum electrolytes. After DM was induced, rats were observed across groups for behavioral changes before, during and after treatment. LD50 of the aqueous extracts of A. conyzoides was found to be above 5000mg/kg. Significant differences were observed in the weights of the various groups at (p<0.05). Furthermore, Na+, K+, and Cl- levels reduced significantly (<0.05), after treatment. Finally, WBC and its indices reduced significantly (p<0.05) while RBC and its indices increased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment. These results show that A. conyzoides possess antihyperglycemic and antilipidemic at 2000mg/kg.