ANTIDIABETIC PROPERTIES OF THE AFRICAN MISTLETOE IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The African mistletoe, Loranthus bengwensis L. (Loranthaceae), has bee n widely used in Nigerian folk medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. Th e aqueous extract or infusion (1.32 g/kg per day) of the leaves of thi s plant parasitic on lemon, Citrus limon (L.) Brum f. (Rutaceae), guav a, Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) and jatropha, Jatropha curcas L. (Eu phorbiaceae), respectively, were supplied ad libitum to separate group s of both non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, as th eir only source of fluid for a period of 28 days. The infusions of mis tletoe parasitic on both lemon and guava trees significantly decreased serum glucose levels in non-diabetic (P < 0.05) and diabetic (P < 0.0 01) rats, whereas that prepared from mistletoe parasitic on jatropha d id not. The data indicate that African mistletoe possesses significant anti-diabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats; its a nti-diabetic activity appears to be highly dependent on the host plant species.