The Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia Fiscus-Indica) Cladode Extracts Modulate Blood Sugar in Swiss White Albino Mice
| dc.contributor.author | Mokua, Peris Moraa | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mayunzu, Oscar | |
| dc.contributor.author | Obonyo, Meshack | |
| dc.contributor.author | Thuita, John | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mutuku, James | |
| dc.contributor.author | Rutto, Jane | |
| dc.contributor.author | Murilla, Grace | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-11-25T12:46:03Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-11-25T12:46:03Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2016 | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Mokua, P.M., Mayunzu, O., Obonyo, M.A., Thuita, J.K., Mutuku, J.N., Rutto, J.J., & Murilla, G.A. (2016). The Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia Fiscus-Indica) Cladode Extracts Modulate Blood Sugar in Swiss White Albino Mice. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/418 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Medicinal plants including the prickly pear cactus have been reported to modulate blood sugar levels. Extracts of prickly pear cactus have been used in various parts of the world to manage diabetes mellitus. However the cactus is viewed as a weed in Kenya. The current study therefore aimed at evaluating the efficacy of prickly pear cactus cladode extracts from Kenya in managing diabetes mellitus in induced mice. Methods: Healthy, adult Swiss white albino male mice weighing 20-30g were induced with diabetes mellitus using Alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight) administered intra-peritoneally. Prickly pear cactus cladode extracts were administered at daily dosage of 0.6 ml for pre-determined periods. Fasting blood sugar levels and live body weights were monitored at intervals of 72 hours throughout the experimental period of 30 days. Results: Alloxan administration resulted in about 3- to 4-fold increase in blood sugar levels. Treatment of diabetic mice with cactus cladode extracts led to decline in blood sugar levels of the animals, however, the levels varied with the period of treatment. Diabetic animals treated with cactus cladode extracts for 10 days showed a significant decline in blood sugar levels on the 7th (p=0.012) and 10th (p=0.001) days of feeding on the extracts when compared to the positive control (diabetic, not treated) animals. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that extracts of prickly pear cactus cladodes from Kenya have potential in managing blood sugar in diabetic mice. | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | International Journal of Diabetes Research | en_US |
| dc.subject | Alloxan | en_US |
| dc.subject | Opuntia | en_US |
| dc.subject | Prickly pear cactus | en_US |
| dc.subject | Cactus cladodes | en_US |
| dc.subject | Diabetes | en_US |
| dc.title | The Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia Fiscus-Indica) Cladode Extracts Modulate Blood Sugar in Swiss White Albino Mice | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |