Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of ripe Carica papaya L. seed in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. Diabetes is a metabolic disease associated with sustained hyperglycaemia. Diabetes has become a global threat because its incidence is increasing on daily basis. Pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and the possibility of its management by therapeutic agents without any side effects have triggered great interest in scientific research. So, World Health Organization has recommended and encouraged the use of alternative therapy especially in countries where access to the conventional treatment of diabetes is inadequate. Ripe pawpaw fruits were collected from a farm, washed, sliced and the seeds were removed. The seeds were air-dried, ground, sieved and the aqueous extract was prepared by dissolving 10 g of the powder in 40 ml of distilled water. Twenty albino rats were used for this research. The animals were divided into four groups, each group containing five animals. Groups 1 and 2 rats were diabetic and treated with 1200 and 400 mg/kg of aqueous extract of ripe C. papaya L. seed respectively, group 3 involves diabetic untreated rats, and group 4 the control rats. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, serum proteins and some electrolytes were measured. Results of this experiment showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the fasting blood glucose. There was also a significant increase in the level of serum protein and some electrolytes toward the basal level. Concentrations of lipid profile were reduced in diabetic untreated rats. Effect of ripe C. papaya L. seed is duration-dependent and it has been shown from this research that aqueous extract of ripe C. papaya L. seed has an antidiabetic effect.

Key words: Ripe Carica papaya L. seed, metabolic disease, albino rats, blood glucose, serum protein, electrolytes, lipid profile.