Phytochemical Studies of Different Fractions of Galega officinalis Extract and Their Effects on Some Biochemical Parameters in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Galega officinalis Linn (Goat’s rue) is popularly called sakpani in Hausa speaking part of Nigeria. The Plant belongs to the family Leguminoseae. G. officinalis is chiefly used as an antidiabetic plant because of its ability to reduce blood sugar levels. The plant has positive effect on breast-milk production. Aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic and acetone extracts of the plant Galega officinalis Linn (Leguminoseae) and fractionations of the methanolic extracts were carried out in stages using standard procedures. Alkaloids, glycosides and flavonoids from the methanolic extracts of G. officinalis at 400 mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.05) reduced the plasma glucose concentration in diabetic treated rats at the 3rd and 28th day of treatment when compared to diabetic untreated rats with alkaloids, glycosides and flavonoids producing 81.61%, 27.20% and 21.76% decreases in glucose concentrations. Also alkaloids from the methanolic extracts of G. officinalis improved lipid profile and reverse the adverse effects of induced diabetic on selected marker enzymes. Methanolic fractions F1, F2, F3 and F6 produced remarkable effect by decreasing glucose concentration in diabetic treated rats compared to diabetic untreated rats. Methanolic extract of G. officinalis proved to be a rich source of phytochemicals with potent hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects.