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Abstract

Background and Objective Diabetes has become a global health burden and its management without side effects is still a challenge which leads to an increase in search for herbal anti-hyperglycaemic agents. Traditional medicines are used in Nigeria to treat diabetes due to their acceptability and availability. The plants are used in crude form or as extract, individually or as a mixture. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different solvents extracts of Persea americana leaf in alloxan induced-diabetic rats. Materials and Method Phytochemical analysis of the fractions was carried out using colour reaction method. Hyperglycaemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate to albino rats. Different solvents extract of P. americana leaf were administrated to group of experimental rats. Blood samples were collected by tail tipping at the end of the experiment and analyzed using glucometer. Results Ethyl acetate fraction was found to have the highest amount of total extractable compounds with chloroform having the least amount. Phytochemical analysis of P. americana leaf revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, triterpenoids and catechins with significant levels of total flavonoids and phenolics found in ethyl acetate fraction. The results of hypoglycemic study showed significant reduction in fasting blood glucose with concomitant reversal of body weight lost, polydipsia and polyphagia in alloxan induced-diabetic rats administered with ethyl acetate extract. The order of effectiveness was ethyl acetatechloroformhexanebutanol fraction. Conclusion The hypoglycemic potential of P. americana leaf observed in this study may be associated with total flavonoids and phenolics with antioxidant activities via insulin modulation and thus, could served as a potential candidate in developing drugs to manage diabetes mellitus and its complications.