Beneficial effects of Annona squamosa extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION The present study investigated the possible therapeutic effects of Annona squamosa (A. squamosa) extract on certain biochemical markers in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus in rats. METHODS The effects of an aqueous extract of A. squamosa leaves on blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, urea, uric acid and creatinine and the activities of diagnostic marker enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were examined in the plasma, liver and kidney tissues of control and experimental groups. RESULTS Oral administration of A. squamosa (300 mg/kg) aqueous extract to diabetic rats for 30 days significantly reduced blood glucose, urea, uric acid and creatinine, but increased the activities of insulin, C-peptide, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio and restored all marker enzymes to near control levels. CONCLUSION The present results shown that A. squamosa extract has an antihyperglycaemic effect and consequently may alleviate liver and renal damage associated with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.