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Abstract

Background and Objective Previous studies showed both leaves and stem-bark of Balanites aegyptiaca possess anti-diabetic properties however, extract from the leaves seem to be more effective. In comparison of activity between fractionated ethanol extracts aqueous fraction ALF and ethyl acetate fraction ELF of the plant leaves, it was found that the aqueous fraction was highly effective over the ethyl acetate fraction. Guided by this, the present study subjected ALF to bio-guided fractionation where sub-fractions were validated in STZ-induced diabetic rats with the aim to ascertain whether anti-diabetic components presence could be further separated. Materials and Methods Ethanol-aqueous fraction ALF of Balanites aegyptiaca leaves was fractionated by Gel Filtration Chromatograph using silica gel packed in a chromatographic column. The ALF was dissolved in distilled water and then applied unto the gel packed in a chromatographic column and eluted with solvent system of increasing polarity diethyl ether, diethyl etherchloroform 11 vv, chloroform and methanol. The eluted sub-fractions namely L1, L2, L3 and L4 were kept at room temperature 25C for the solvents to be evaporated and sub-fractions subjected to thin layer chromatography using silica gel G-coated plate. Diabetic rat groups were administered to various sub-fractions while positive control rats received metformin, normal and negative control rat groups received distilled water. Results The yields, total phenolics and flavonoids content of sub-fractions obtained from the column fractionation of ethanol-aqueous fraction of Balanites aegyptiaca leaves showed methanol sub-fraction L4 with highest percent yield and total phenolics content whereas diethyl etherchloroform leaves sub-fraction L2 was high in flavonoids content. Significant anti-hyper-glycemic effect were recorded from diabetic rat groups that received metformin and methanol leaves sub-fraction L4 as indicative by a significant decrease in the trend of their weekly fasting blood glucose levels and values of area under fasting blood glucose curve AUC. Diabetic rat groups that received L4 showed a significant reverse in serum lipid levels but increase in body weight comparable with diabetic rat groups treated with other sub-fractions. Water and feed intake of all diabetic treated rats were significantly different when compared with the untreated diabetic and normal control rats. Conclusion The study suggested that bio-active compounds of Balanites aegyptiaca leaves isare polar in nature and could be carefully isolated by bio-guided fractionation.