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<article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
  <front>
    <journal-meta id="journal-meta-1">
      <journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Biomedical Research and Therapy</journal-id>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">Biomedical Research and Therapy</journal-id>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="journal_submission_guidelines">http://www.bmrat.org/</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Biomedical Research and Therapy</journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn publication-format="electronic"></issn>
      <issn publication-format="print"></issn>
      <isbn></isbn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Biomedpress</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta id="article-meta-1">
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id"></article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">https://doi.org/10.15419/bmrat.v6i9.564</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="pmid"></article-id>
      <title-group>
        <article-title id="at-0a23ccfd5df0">Evaluation of body weight, serum glucose level and oxidative stress parameters of diabetic rats administered phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="e-6f8770ad679e">Vitex doniana</italic></article-title>
        <subtitle></subtitle>
        <trans-title-group>
          <trans-title></trans-title>
        </trans-title-group>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib id="c-2655cecb6d39">
          <name id="n-739b54e39ac2">
            <surname>Obasi</surname>
            <given-names>Emmanuel</given-names>
          </name>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid"/>
          <xref id="x-beb5b2ff4063" rid="a-e86aea805f93" ref-type="aff">1</xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib id="c-0236e31b7258">
          <name id="n-46b787a3f3f3">
            <surname>Iheanacho</surname>
            <given-names>Kizito</given-names>
          </name>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid"/>
          <xref id="x-9b8287872981" rid="a-e86aea805f93" ref-type="aff">1</xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib id="c-0832722b1273">
          <name id="n-dc07cbe64245">
            <surname>Nwachukwu</surname>
            <given-names>Ngwu</given-names>
          </name>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid"/>
          <xref id="x-b873bbed05bf" rid="a-e86aea805f93" ref-type="aff">1</xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib id="c-ab0b94d1c33b">
          <name id="n-b2376563734c">
            <surname>Agha</surname>
            <given-names>Nc</given-names>
          </name>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid"/>
          <xref id="x-09ef4c2a033e" rid="a-e86aea805f93" ref-type="aff">1</xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib id="c-70e3b8dd64e0" corresp="yes">
          <name id="n-51e1e2ccce32">
            <surname>Chikezie</surname>
            <given-names>Paul Chidoka</given-names>
          </name>
          <email>p_chikezie@yahoo.com</email>
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0001-5066-724X</contrib-id>
          <xref id="x-384bbcc3675d" rid="a-8f853c808935" ref-type="aff">2</xref>
        </contrib>
        <aff id="a-e86aea805f93">
          <institution>Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria</institution>
          <addr-line></addr-line>
        </aff>
        <aff id="a-8f853c808935">
          <institution>Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria</institution>
          <addr-line></addr-line>
        </aff>
      </contrib-group>
      <volume>6</volume>
      <issue>9</issue>
      <fpage></fpage>
      <lpage></lpage>
      <page-range></page-range>
      <elocation-id></elocation-id>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement></copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year></copyright-year>
      </permissions>
      <funding-group>
        <funding-statement></funding-statement>
      </funding-group>
      <author-notes>
        <fn fn-type="conflict">
          <p></p>
        </fn>
      </author-notes>
      <pub-date>
        <day>21</day>
        <month>9</month>
        <year>2019</year>
      </pub-date>
      <abstract id="abstract-b9d59bfe590e">
        <title id="abstract-title-875674347719">Abstract</title>
        <p id="paragraph-c1797359b58c"><bold id="strong-1">Background:</bold> The present study evaluated the effect of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of<italic id="emphasis-1"> Vitex doniana </italic>on body weight, serum glucose and oxidative stress parameters in diabetes mellitus (DM) rats. <bold id="strong-2">Methods:</bold> DM was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH = 7.4). A total of 36 adult male Wister albino rats were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats. The groups consist of normal untreated rats, untreated DM rats, DM rats treated with 500 mg/kg dimethylguanide (Metformin™) and DM rats treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of<italic id="emphasis-2"> Vitex doniana</italic>. The rats were treated for 28 days. Serum glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid concentrations, and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured using standard methods. The changes in body weight was also measured. <bold id="strong-3">Results:</bold> The results showed a significant reduction (<italic id="emphasis-3">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) in serum glucose and MDA concentration, whereas serum SOD, CAT activities, as well as GSH and ascorbic acid concentration were significantly elevated (<italic id="emphasis-4">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) in treated DM groups in a dose dependent manner. <bold id="strong-4">Conclusion:</bold> The results of the present study indicated that phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-5">V. doniana </italic> promoted increased body weight, ameliorated DM and alleviated reduced antioxidant activities in alloxan-induced DM rats. Phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-6">V. doniana </italic> could<italic id="emphasis-7"> </italic>serve as a potential natural and safe remedy for the management of DM. </p>
        <p id="p-b41e2fb398c2"/>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group id="kwd-group-1">
        <title>Keywords</title>
        <kwd>Diabetes mellitus</kwd>
        <kwd>oxidative stress</kwd>
        <kwd>Vitex doniana</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-c6038b55a648">Introduction</title>
      <p id="p-d16660abf183">Diabetes mellitus (DM), a leading metabolic disorder worldwide, is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by impairment in insulin secretion and/or insulin action engendering alteration in carbohydrate, protein and lipid intermediary metabolism. This disease occurs throughout the world and has become a challenge to public health delivery system in developing countries due to steady increased prevalence and the absence of adequate treatment, which is currently expensive or unavailable. The increasing prevalence of DM in developing countries has been linked to trends in urbanization and lifestyle changes, including “Western-style” diet<xref id="x-91f6c21a0b9a" rid="R58586213577562" ref-type="bibr">1</xref>. Numerous experimental and clinical observations have indicated that hyperglycemia may directly or indirectly contribute to excessive formation of free radicals<xref id="x-3fcef40a8761" rid="R58586213577563" ref-type="bibr">2</xref>. DM alters lipid metabolism and causes oxidative stress<xref id="x-6dcf03228b44" rid="R58586213577564" ref-type="bibr">3</xref>. Oxidative stress in cells and tissues is a result of increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)<xref id="x-084560b1cd81" rid="R58586213577565" ref-type="bibr">4</xref>. Lipid peroxidation of cellular structures, a consequence of free radical activity, plays important roles in aging and complications of DM<xref rid="R58586213577566" ref-type="bibr">5</xref>,<xref rid="R58586213577567" ref-type="bibr">6</xref>. Excessive levels of ROS disrupt natural antioxidant defense systems and alter antioxidant enzyme activities in various tissues<xref id="x-284f6e9b3b20" rid="R58586213577568" ref-type="bibr">7</xref>. </p>
      <p id="p-e895c7e84745"/>
      <p id="clipboard_property">Secondary plant metabolites have been shown to modify biological processes, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases in humans<xref id="x-27cdfffd4035" rid="R58586213577567" ref-type="bibr">6</xref>. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in finding natural antioxidants from plant materials because synthetic antioxidants have been implicated in cellular toxicity<xref id="x-1013fe1f6deb" rid="R58586213577569" ref-type="bibr">8</xref>. The most important substance of these natural antioxidants are flavonoids and phenolic compounds<xref id="x-68bfc7761d2a" rid="R58586213577570" ref-type="bibr">9</xref>. Plant phenolics are a major group of compounds that act as primary antioxidants or free radical scavengers<xref rid="R58586213577570" ref-type="bibr">9</xref>,<xref rid="R58586213577571" ref-type="bibr">10</xref>. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="e-2220ea0b5db7">Vitex doniana</italic> on body weight, serum glucose concentration and oxidative stress parameters of alloxan-induced DM rats.</p>
      <p id="p-22d1aa6c5dad"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-e7bff2b8180c">Methods</title>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-8fe17aae80ee">Collection and preparation of plant materials</title>
        <p id="p-f7b1f206c39d">Natural habitats in Mgbaleze, Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State, which lies on the rainforest belt of Nigeria (Latitude 6°15’N; Longitude 8°05’E), served as sources of fresh leaves of <italic id="e-1c43756a6c35">V. doniana</italic>. Professor S.C. Onyekwelu of the Department of Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria identified and authenticated the plant specimens. The collection and preparation of the plant materials were following the previously described protocol<xref id="x-58a9da0fe374" rid="R58586213577572" ref-type="bibr">11</xref>.</p>
        <p id="p-f4cd6ed54a16"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-8cf4004d7a5a">Preparation of phenolic aqueous leaf extract </title>
        <p id="p-f61d75f70d60">Preparation of aqueous phenolic aqueous leaf extract was according to the methods of Iwueke and Nwodo<xref id="x-abf16e6a75db" rid="R58586213577573" ref-type="bibr">12</xref>. A 500 g part of the fresh leaves was dried to constant weight in an oven at 50°C for 10-12 h<xref id="x-8693e2b52ce6" rid="R58586213702842" ref-type="bibr">13</xref>. The dried leaf sample was ground into powder using a milling machine. The ground sample was sieved on a wire mesh screen (3 x 3 mm<sup id="superscript-1">2</sup>). Finally, the sample was kept at 4°C in air-tight plastic bottles with screw caps pending extraction. </p>
        <p id="p-9cb518496971"/>
        <p id="p-822909c8466d">A 250 g of the prepared dried leaf sample was soaked in 1500 mL of methanol/water mixture; 1:1 <italic id="e-c45c770dabb0">v/v</italic> in conical flask. The content in the flask was mixed properly by vigorous shaking for 10 min and allowed to stand for 48 h. The mixture was filtered using Whatman No. 42 filter paper. The phenolic aqueous extract (filtrate) was concentrated on a rotary evaporator (Büch Rotavapor R-200) for 12 hours at 50°C, and the residues dried in a vacuum desiccator.  A 2.0 g portion of the dried extract was reconstituted in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), osmotically equivalent to 100 g/L NaCI {9.00 g NaCI, 1.71 g Na<sub id="subscript-1">2</sub>HPO<sub id="subscript-2">4</sub>.2H<sub id="subscript-3">2</sub>O and 2.43 g NaH<sub id="subscript-4">2</sub>PO<sub id="subscript-5">4</sub>.2H<sub id="subscript-6">2</sub>O/L} to give standard concentration of phenolic aqueous leaf extract. Appropriate doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (<italic id="e-c74034638475">bw</italic>) were administered to the experimental rats. </p>
        <p id="p-aa56741eb93a"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-57ce7be6f90e">Total phenolic content </title>
        <p id="p-4f2a50abc937">The total phenolic content of the extract was measured using spectrophotometric method of Nithiyanantham <italic id="e-c08b6f327744">et al</italic>., <xref id="x-070e4910e232" rid="R58586213577574" ref-type="bibr">14</xref> as previously reported<xref id="x-97cbd19e6b78" rid="R58586213577575" ref-type="bibr">15</xref>. The concentration of phenolic content of the extract was measured by mixing 0.1 mL of 20 mg/ mL (w/v) of the extract with 1.0 mL of 7% Na<sub id="s-e8f2f8b64b7e">2</sub>CO<sub id="s-76f4c597ad6f">3</sub> solutions. A 0.1 mL of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was added to the mixture. The mixture was made up to the volume of 2.5 mL using distilled water and allowed to stand for 90 min. The absorbance of the mixture was measured at <inline-formula id="if-036c9be59de0"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>λ</mml:mi></mml:math></inline-formula>max=750 nm using a spectrophotometer. Phenolic content in milligrams of gallic acid equivalent per gram (mg GAE/g) of dry weight of the extract was measured by comparing the absorbance of the sample content with that of standard gallic acid calibration curve. </p>
        <p id="p-b12b68c266ba"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-80dd4f03a744">Experimental animal ethics</title>
        <p id="p-344b3ab787e5">Healthy male Wister albino rats were obtained from the animal house of Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The rats were acclimatized at room temperature in Abia State University animal house and were given growers mash (GM) and water <italic id="e-4dcfd7211319">ad libitum</italic> for two weeks. <italic id="e-f5d817c71fb2"/><bold id="s-9b3ed3ce9673"/></p>
        <p id="p-6b92a5bcf011"/>
        <p id="p-e0381b75ac01">The Ethical Committee for the use of animals in research, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria (Ethics Approval Number: ODVC/REN/998/15) approved the present study. Handling of the rats and other experimental protocols were in accordance with the standard principles of laboratory animal care of the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH, 1978).</p>
        <p id="p-52781c99d32b"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-872513cc2483">Induction of diabetes mellitus</title>
        <p id="p-178560b90b29">The rats were fasted for 16 h, and initial fasting serum glucose concentrations (FSGC) were measured using a glucometer (Roche, Mexico City) prior to the induction of DM. Experimental DM was induced by single intra-peritoneal (<italic id="e-3338df0faaf0">i.p.</italic>) injection of 100 mg/kg <italic id="emphasis-8">bw</italic> of alloxan monohydrate (Sigma, St Loius, USA.) in PBS. The DM rats that exhibited FSGC greater than 110 mg/dL were selected for the experiment <xref id="x-91a503c2c356" rid="R58586213577572" ref-type="bibr">11</xref>. </p>
        <p id="p-d8348f2f016e"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-717f9c170b17">Experimental design </title>
        <p id="p-17e0b305c6c6">A total of 36 male Wister rats (<italic id="emphasis-9">Rattus norvegicus</italic>) of 8-10 weeks old, weighing between 180 and 230 g, were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats. DM-rat groups were treated by oral administration of different doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-10">V. doniana </italic>at regular intervals of 12 h for a period of 28 days<italic id="emphasis-12">.</italic> Standard anti-DM drug-dimethylguanide (Metformin™) was given to the negative control group, thus: </p>
        <list list-type="bullet">
          <list-item id="li-99d661343d51">
            <p><bold id="s-9ddad1ab3dc0">Group 1</bold>: DM-rats received GM + water <italic id="e-0f551b6dc31e">ad libitum</italic> + phenolic aqueous leaf extract of<italic id="e-d24ea059a4d8"> V. doniana </italic>(100 mg/kg <italic id="e-ca9ecfd3b2fd">bw </italic>in PBS). </p>
          </list-item>
          <list-item id="li-9d18b0fd991c">
            <p><bold id="s-f1b2f7ee2484">Group 2</bold>: DM-rats received GM + water <italic id="e-3bdf9ab2db59">ad libitum</italic> + phenolic aqueous leaf extract of<italic id="e-4efd4641a9d6"> V. doniana </italic>(200 mg/kg <italic id="e-6d6eb7affe51">bw </italic>in PBS). </p>
          </list-item>
          <list-item id="li-2ee377ba0437">
            <p><bold id="s-05f2ac925fc6">Group 3</bold>: DM-rats received GM + water <italic id="e-37a4c60ad947">ad libitum</italic> + phenolic aqueous leaf extract of<italic id="e-f491f169a67c"> V. doniana </italic>(400 mg/kg <italic id="e-d2f26deeb9a6">bw </italic>in PBS). </p>
          </list-item>
          <list-item id="li-7d589fe38e39">
            <p><bold id="s-06999ea793ef">Group 4</bold>: DM-rats received GM + water <italic id="e-0925bfcc7ffe">ad libitum</italic> + dimethylguanide (500 mg/kg <italic id="emphasis-14">bw </italic>in PBS).  </p>
          </list-item>
          <list-item id="li-e093e8a4134f">
            <p><bold id="s-f5add5a995e1">Group 5</bold>: Normal rat received GM + water <italic id="e-607944af377c">ad libitum</italic>. </p>
          </list-item>
          <list-item id="li-bc6170f61229">
            <p><bold id="s-f43e1c4b6bbb">Group 6</bold>: DM-rats received GM + water <italic id="e-546d34639441">ad libitum</italic>.</p>
          </list-item>
        </list>
        <p id="p-cec49c2fbda7"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-a1b314e88491">Body Weight</title>
        <p id="p-e866108e6b5e">The body weight of the rats were measured on the day of commencement of treatment and on the 28<sup id="superscript-2">th</sup> day using electronic weighing balance {Digital Precision Weighing Balance (JCS-QC03) – China}. The body weights of the rats were calculated thus:</p>
        <p id="p-eeb6f04669e1">
          <bold id="s-b9f94825f56d">Calculation</bold>
        </p>
        <disp-formula-group id="dfg-b980e4fecfbb"> <disp-formula><mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mo>%</mml:mo><mml:mo>∆</mml:mo><mml:mo> </mml:mo><mml:mi>b</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mi>w</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mfrac><mml:mrow><mml:mo>(</mml:mo><mml:mi>b</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mi>w</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mi>A</mml:mi><mml:mi>T</mml:mi><mml:mo>)</mml:mo><mml:mo>-</mml:mo><mml:mo>(</mml:mo><mml:mi>b</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mi>w</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mi>B</mml:mi><mml:mi>T</mml:mi><mml:mo>)</mml:mo></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mi>b</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mi>w</mml:mi><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mo>.</mml:mo><mml:mi>B</mml:mi><mml:mi>T</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:mfrac><mml:mo>×</mml:mo><mml:mn>100</mml:mn></mml:math></disp-formula></disp-formula-group>
        <p id="paragraph-12"><bold id="s-58932ef95d64">Where:</bold> </p>
        <p id="p-3e001d3ba527">%∆: body weight </p>
        <p id="p-c592d8501fb8">(<italic id="emphasis-15">b.w.</italic>): Percentage change in <italic id="emphasis-16">b.w.</italic></p>
        <p id="paragraph-13"><italic id="emphasis-17">b.w.</italic>.AT: Body weight after treatment on day 28</p>
        <p id="paragraph-14"><italic id="emphasis-18">b.w.</italic>.BT: Body weight before treatment on day 0</p>
        <p id="p-a8aaa3117936"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-10039ca5c255">Collection and preparation of blood sample </title>
        <p id="paragraph-15">Blood samples were collected from 24 h fasted rats by cardiac puncture and allowed to clot in sterile vials. Serum samples were collected from clotted blood using a centrifuge operated at 2000 <italic id="emphasis-19">rpm</italic> for 10 min. The serum was collected by aspiration using a Pasteur pipette. The serum samples were stored in the refrigerator at 4°C prior to biochemical analyses. </p>
        <p id="p-116147656e19"/>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title id="t-97d5b57a2419">Biochemical parameters</title>
        <sec>
          <title id="t-75cb55ffa9f9">Serum glucose</title>
          <p id="paragraph-17">Serum glucose concentration was measured using glucose oxidase method according to Randox kit instructions (Randox R Laboratories Ltd. Ardmore, United Kingdom) as previously reported <xref id="x-54d86815dcc3" rid="R58586213577576" ref-type="bibr">16</xref>. </p>
          <p id="p-d2a194e5249e"/>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title id="t-e136f4685a36"><bold id="s-eef59b6d4d10">Serum</bold> <bold id="strong-5">malondialdehyde</bold> <bold id="strong-6">(MDA)</bold> </title>
          <p id="paragraph-19">Serum MDA concentration was measured according to the method of Tjahjani <italic id="emphasis-20">et al.,</italic><xref id="x-680920a00b96" rid="R58586213577577" ref-type="bibr">17</xref> with minor modifications as previously reported<xref id="x-6eed71149b4a" rid="R58586213577578" ref-type="bibr">18</xref>.  </p>
          <p id="p-0c3b9a9f10b5"/>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title id="t-c2f4635901e8"><bold id="strong-7">Serum</bold> <bold id="strong-8">catalase (CAT) activity</bold></title>
          <p id="paragraph-21">Serum CAT activity was measured according to the methods of Luck<xref id="x-d2e36090c9a6" rid="R58586213577579" ref-type="bibr">19</xref> as previously reported<xref id="x-131f63bb182d" rid="R58586213577572" ref-type="bibr">11</xref>.</p>
          <p id="p-ec2cff997f16"/>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title id="t-d31a7e33ea57"><bold id="strong-9">Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity</bold> </title>
          <p id="paragraph-23">Serum SOD activity was measured according to the methods of Kono<xref id="x-a6fc94a41b78" rid="R58586213577580" ref-type="bibr">20</xref> as previously reported<xref id="x-ac61f3315e53" rid="R58586213577581" ref-type="bibr">21</xref>. </p>
          <p id="p-9dd196d4f2be"/>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title id="t-252c779ca629">
            <bold id="strong-11">Serum glutathione (GSH) concentration</bold>
          </title>
          <p id="paragraph-25">Serum GSH concentration was measured according to the methods Moron <italic id="emphasis-21">et al.,</italic><xref id="x-d40f525bbae9" rid="R58586213577582" ref-type="bibr">22</xref> as previously reported<xref id="x-2d6d69b6114a" rid="R58586213577583" ref-type="bibr">23</xref>.</p>
          <p id="p-a584e1af06e8"/>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title id="t-12f70e77b18d">
            <bold id="strong-12">Serum ascorbic acid concentration</bold>
          </title>
          <p id="paragraph-27">Ascorbic acid a content of the extracts was measured using iodine titrimetric methods as previously described <xref id="x-0fca2d310b22" rid="R58586213577584" ref-type="bibr">24</xref>.</p>
          <p id="p-694fb0d6dab9"/>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title id="t-acbd2dc2387d">
            <bold id="strong-13">Statistical analysis</bold>
          </title>
          <p id="t-2a61accb3c76">All data obtained were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the post hoc was done using Turkey’s multiple comparison tests. The probability level was set at <italic id="emphasis-22">p</italic> &lt; 0.05. GraphPad Prism version 7.0 software was used for all the statistical analysis.</p>
          <p id="p-d9e739aad431"/>
        </sec>
      </sec>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-513b48049117">Results</title>
      <p id="p-c673c23b08cc">The total phenolic content of aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="e-cdb9bfec7262">V. doniana </italic> was 354.00 ± 0.58 mg/ml gallic acid equivalent (GAE). At the end of the experimental time, Group 5 showed the highest percentage gain in body weight, whereas Group 6 showed loss in body weight. <bold id="s-6f2f73b2f41c"><xref id="x-bb28aae033c2" rid="f-6ccf206a24a8" ref-type="fig">Figure 1</xref></bold>  showed that the percentage gain in body weight of Group 2 was not significantly different (<italic id="e-ac5497af64e1">p</italic> &gt; 0.05) from that of Group 1. However, the percentage gain in body weight of Group 3 was significantly different (<italic id="e-71c499d6a664">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) from that of Group 1. Furthermore, the percentage gain in body weight of Group 2 and Group 3 were comparable (<italic id="e-448441587e5a">p</italic> &gt; 0.05). The percentage gain in body weight of the DM rat group treated with the standard anti- DM drug (Group 4) was significantly lower (<italic id="e-878532f9c516">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) than that of the normal rats (Group 5), but comparable to Group 4 (<italic id="e-269a41e1dc62">p</italic> &gt; 0.05). Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 exhibited percentage gain in body weights that was significantly lower (<italic id="e-1a586489c2d7">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) than Group 5 (<bold id="s-79a3ae6281ba"><xref id="x-dcbe2e6b1833" rid="f-6ccf206a24a8" ref-type="fig">Figure 1</xref>)</bold>. </p>
      <p id="p-ce8bbd0b149f"/>
      <fig id="f-6ccf206a24a8" orientation="portrait" fig-type="graphic" position="anchor">
        <label>Figure 1 </label>
        <caption id="c-b42ad07095ac">
          <title id="t-299b42fed246"><bold id="s-7b2b5004ed89">Percentage change in body weight of experimental rat groups</bold>. Treatments with superscripts <sup id="s-e75222e37b95">a, b, c, d, e </sup>showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared with the diabetic control rat group. Values are expressed as mean standard deviation (n = 5). Values with the same superscript are not significantly different. </title>
          <p id="p-c2c281992b0b"><bold id="s-5e324075120c">Abbreviations</bold>:  <bold id="s-a2e92ced935c">b.w.</bold>: Body Weight, <bold id="s-32db3a16f7e4">AE</bold>: Aqueous Extracts, <bold id="s-8d93adc89c0c">MET</bold>: Metformin, <bold id="s-221a9fc256c9">N</bold>: Normal, <bold id="s-233019d70b5f">D</bold>: Diabetic.</p>
        </caption>
        <graphic id="g-8e9bd86181d1" xlink:href="https://typeset-prod-media-server.s3.amazonaws.com/article_uploads/75b33a72-4424-4695-8361-e5a1ff058f36/image/9afcb926-b774-4382-8a19-199381dd93ad-ubbb.png"/>
      </fig>
      <p id="p-6596761c5dd2"/>
      <p id="p-387329033153"/>
      <fig id="f-a7110c6554cb" orientation="portrait" fig-type="graphic" position="anchor">
        <label>Figure 2 </label>
        <caption id="c-a7c39c432764">
          <title id="t-80addb2851b0"><bold id="s-c1808b5692dd">Percentage change in body weights of experimental rat groups</bold>. Treatments with superscripts <sup id="s-f0bc4a8a768d">a, b, c, d, e</sup> showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared with the diabetic control rat group. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 5). Values with the same superscript are not significantly different. </title>
          <p id="p-be15de3daa00"><bold id="s-c35a78ddc020">Abbreviations: </bold> <bold id="s-7708481a33c1">b.w</bold>.: Body Weight,<bold id="s-8b42556b81d6"> AE</bold>: Aqueous Extracts,<bold id="s-709bfd7e693d"> MET</bold>: Metformin,<bold id="s-17a1253ea92e"> N</bold>: Normal, <bold id="s-a441324c0853">D</bold>: diabetic</p>
        </caption>
        <graphic id="g-c5bc1d63d2d1" xlink:href="https://typeset-prod-media-server.s3.amazonaws.com/article_uploads/75b33a72-4424-4695-8361-e5a1ff058f36/image/472ad283-4089-4878-b11d-fbccdc0a2b91-unnnn.png"/>
      </fig>
      <p id="p-1e4a202c6c06"/>
      <p id="p-83c2796db318"/>
      <fig id="f-1bd5496948cb" orientation="portrait" fig-type="graphic" position="anchor">
        <label>Figure 3 </label>
        <caption id="c-a629f8314d0e">
          <title id="t-43442899c670"><bold id="s-dd58288a895c">Serum malondialdehyde concentrations (mM/L x10<sup id="s-9575fd089ee1">-7</sup>) of experimental rat groups</bold>. Treatments with superscripts <sup id="s-ce38edf10f7a">a, b, c, d, e</sup> showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared with the diabetic control rat group. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 5). Values with the same superscript are not significantly different. </title>
          <p id="p-7792a8e721b7"><bold id="s-5ae7d1e48618">Abbreviations: b.w</bold>.: Body Weight, <bold id="s-7378492b2283">AE</bold>: Aqueous Extracts, M<bold id="s-04a7e495026d">ET</bold>: Metformin<sup id="s-aa8ab40b3ddc">TM</sup>, <bold id="s-2f8dafe3be95">N</bold>: Normal, <bold id="s-004dcb20178b">D</bold>: diabetic</p>
        </caption>
        <graphic id="g-60639b48295e" xlink:href="https://typeset-prod-media-server.s3.amazonaws.com/article_uploads/75b33a72-4424-4695-8361-e5a1ff058f36/image/1482bf45-eaf1-4d18-92e3-f995476a5fbc-ussss.png"/>
      </fig>
      <p id="p-8d4029510259"/>
      <p id="p-b86fe08e4629"/>
      <fig id="f-0a78382fad83" orientation="portrait" fig-type="graphic" position="anchor">
        <label>Figure 4 </label>
        <caption id="c-cf6c509cc91e">
          <title id="t-43c305cad0bf"><bold id="s-7af3226bf8bd">Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (IU x10<sup id="s-73c0bf52bbbb">-4</sup>) of experimental rat groups</bold>. Treatments with superscripts <sup id="s-79c8fe1766db">a, b, c, d, e</sup> showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared with the diabetic control rat group. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 5). Values with the same superscript are not significantly different.  </title>
          <p id="p-f8c4063454c3"><bold id="s-b92c6a3c5477">Abbreviations: b.w.</bold>: Body Weight, <bold id="s-1f7e586a448a">AE</bold>: Aqueous Extracts, <bold id="s-41984d5c2ea3">MET</bold>: Metformin<sup id="s-5024aa23a282">TM</sup>, <bold id="s-7ae3ab774a0e">N</bold>: Normal, <bold id="s-9adaac0c8072">D</bold>: diabetic</p>
        </caption>
        <graphic id="g-2dc7215935d1" xlink:href="https://typeset-prod-media-server.s3.amazonaws.com/article_uploads/75b33a72-4424-4695-8361-e5a1ff058f36/image/b3102bf3-994b-486e-98dc-8e416fd9a97e-udsds.png"/>
      </fig>
      <p id="p-0fd9a437e740"/>
      <p id="p-df18f52ed9f3"><bold id="s-8143a9281483"><xref id="x-47e2c434fb8c" rid="f-a7110c6554cb" ref-type="fig">Figure 2</xref></bold>  showed that Group 6 had the highest serum glucose concentration compared with other experimental rat groups (Groups 1-5) (<italic id="e-8b2c91b0daa0">p</italic> &gt; 0.05). Figure 2 also showed that reduction in serum glucose concentrations of the DM rat groups (Group 1-3) treated with phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="e-ec4eadce3c80">V. doniana </italic> was a dose dependent order, which expressed Group 3 &gt; Group 2 &gt; Group 1 (<italic id="e-37de6bdc4e0d">p</italic> &lt; 0.05).</p>
      <p id="p-06bd05cd7395"><bold id="s-abc548139965"><xref id="x-3fecdffd0383" rid="f-a7110c6554cb" ref-type="fig">Figure 2</xref></bold>  showed that Group 6 gave the highest serum glucose concentration compared to other experimental rat groups (Groups 1-5). Also, <bold id="s-e36cabb639ae"><xref id="x-f4bcf949b408" rid="f-a7110c6554cb" ref-type="fig">Figure 2</xref></bold>  showed that the reduction in serum glucose concentrations of DM rats (Group 1-3) treated with phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="e-fb2d75bf821b">V. doniana </italic> were a dose dependent order, as that Group 1 &gt; Group 2 &gt; Group 3 (<italic id="e-277f67e9256e">p</italic> &lt; 0.05). However, serum glucose concentrations of Groups 1-3 were significantly higher (<italic id="e-6a0b919f69f4">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) than Group 6. Finally, <bold id="s-74a0a744b5e3"><xref id="x-17cc7723200d" rid="f-a7110c6554cb" ref-type="fig">Figure 2</xref></bold>  showed that serum glucose concentration of Group 5 was comparable with that of Group 6.</p>
      <p id="p-4300fbbf522b"/>
      <fig id="f-5c650545ff04" orientation="portrait" fig-type="graphic" position="anchor">
        <label>Figure 5 </label>
        <caption id="c-0bbba5bf3161">
          <title id="t-d8e695dc78ff"><bold id="s-a933fb251990">Serum catalase (CAT) activity (IU x10<sup id="s-97a3a4560775">-2</sup>) of experimental rat groups</bold>. Treatments with superscripts <sup id="s-4affac536c9b">a, b, c, d, e</sup> showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared with the diabetic control rat group. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 5). Values with the same superscript are not significantly different. <bold id="s-134f9bed8f27">Abbreviations: b.w</bold>.: Body Weight, <bold id="s-34087d21ab29">AE</bold>: Aqueous Extracts, <bold id="s-90099ae1a6fc">MET</bold>: Metformin<sup id="s-afefa823f109">TM</sup>, <bold id="s-50e5564c9dff">N</bold>: Normal, <bold id="s-ca4f272abb05">D</bold>: diabetic</title>
        </caption>
        <graphic id="g-35be08fcdba9" xlink:href="https://typeset-prod-media-server.s3.amazonaws.com/article_uploads/75b33a72-4424-4695-8361-e5a1ff058f36/image/c5d0c5b7-a5e1-4249-b2a4-68008c39d40d-urtrt.png"/>
      </fig>
      <p id="p-8d3248a648f3"/>
      <p id="p-6083398adecc">Serum MDA concentration of Group 5 was lowest compared with other experimental rat groups, whereas Group 6 gave the highest serum MDA concentration (<italic id="e-ae72e8a66520">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) (<bold id="s-4c9b1aa50354"><xref id="x-797233b290c6" rid="f-1bd5496948cb" ref-type="fig">Figure 3</xref>)</bold>. Serum MDA concentration of Group 1 was not significantly reduced (<italic id="e-36f51f6775ab">p</italic> &gt; 0.05) compared to Group 2. However, serum MDA concentration of Group 3 was significantly reduced (<italic id="e-fa6a4bdf906f">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) compared with those of Group 1 and Group 2. Also, <bold id="s-53e2c244dcec"><xref id="x-3221c224447e" rid="f-1bd5496948cb" ref-type="fig">Figure 3</xref></bold> showed that serum MDA concentration of Group 4 was not significantly different (<italic id="e-9876014ed9fd">p </italic>&gt; 0.05) from Group 1. </p>
      <p id="p-6d8f9502768a"/>
      <fig id="f-d386f3b997bd" orientation="portrait" fig-type="graphic" position="anchor">
        <label>Figure 6 </label>
        <caption id="c-bff620793bb7">
          <title id="t-e3e4ae6cb3f4"><bold id="s-c6a0a266ce51">Serum glutathione (GSH) concentration (μmol/L) of experimental rat groups</bold>. Treatments with superscripts <sup id="s-2c29e2730b40">a, b, c, d, e</sup> showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared with the diabetic control rat group. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 5). Values with the same superscript are not significantly different. <bold id="s-4d59614974cd">Abbreviations: b.w</bold>.: Body Weight, <bold id="s-576b93e83d49">AE</bold>: Aqueous Extracts, <bold id="s-cbaed82b8911">MET</bold>: Metformin<sup id="s-dd3e11d23450">TM</sup>, <bold id="s-21fbcb993c40">N</bold>: Normal, <bold id="s-80505e9d315c">D</bold>: diabetic</title>
        </caption>
        <graphic id="g-c5e0723a98ca" xlink:href="https://typeset-prod-media-server.s3.amazonaws.com/article_uploads/75b33a72-4424-4695-8361-e5a1ff058f36/image/15185f6c-2d16-469a-9f7a-969519b88472-ujkjk.png"/>
      </fig>
      <p id="p-c3e9bbc9a0c9"/>
      <p id="p-90b032a34c4b"> <bold id="s-cb87035f9884"><xref id="x-17270d0673e9" rid="f-0a78382fad83" ref-type="fig">Figure 4</xref></bold> showed that Group 5 gave the highest serum SOD activity, whereas Group 6 exhibited the lowest serum SOD activity (<italic id="e-7cf94169394a">p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Additionally, serum SOD activities of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 4 were not significantly different (<italic id="e-c51603a4a6f5">p</italic> &gt; 0.05). Group 3 exhibited the highest serum SOD activity among the herbal extract treated groups (Group 1-3) and was significantly higher (<italic id="e-e3b509decf52">p</italic> &lt; 0;05) than Group 4, which represented DM rat group treated with standard anti- DM drug.</p>
      <p id="p-399bf23d5f4d"/>
      <fig id="f-f98517214c89" orientation="portrait" fig-type="graphic" position="anchor">
        <label>Figure 7 </label>
        <caption id="c-7b29df465234">
          <title id="t-825119db26a8"><bold id="s-cd8faabbe555">Serum ascorbic acid concentration (AA) concentration (μmol/L) of experimental rat groups</bold>. Treatments with superscripts <sup id="s-0907d91e28ce">a, b, c, d, e</sup> showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared with the diabetic control rat group. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 5). Values with the same superscript are not significantly different.</title>
          <p id="p-b7397379c88f"><bold id="s-b926817b4d34">Abbreviations:</bold>  <bold id="s-5671e6b4c3de">b.w</bold>.: Body Weight, <bold id="s-9e0903c57ba7">AE</bold>: Aqueous Extracts, <bold id="s-a208670358e6">MET</bold>: Metformin<sup id="s-fb016b499ee8">TM</sup>, <bold id="s-d0d8b5fdcaab">N</bold>: Normal, <bold id="s-cd5ec2e4d027">D</bold>: diabetic</p>
        </caption>
        <graphic id="g-11d44e375dd2" xlink:href="https://typeset-prod-media-server.s3.amazonaws.com/article_uploads/75b33a72-4424-4695-8361-e5a1ff058f36/image/52ac190b-fe29-48ef-b7c5-9b6d8fa01569-uyuyu.png"/>
      </fig>
      <p id="p-3e7f03582367"/>
      <p id="p-3823647d85af"/>
      <p id="p-492a2b74f526">Serum catalase activity was highest in Group 5 and was significantly different (<italic id="e-c8b9f8e91fdd">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) from other experimental rat groups (<bold id="s-448e0bd4cf68"><xref id="x-256b895a0723" rid="f-5c650545ff04" ref-type="fig">Figure 5</xref>)</bold>. Serum catalase activity of herbal treated rat groups varied in an increasing order, such that Group 3 &gt; Group 2 &gt; Group 1, and was significantly higher (<italic id="e-21b6338dc79d">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) than those of Group 4 and Group 6.</p>
      <p id="p-3fcc6fa5fc95"/>
      <p id="p-16752fb6ffaf"><bold id="s-1791dd24f5bc"><xref id="x-f8469a74c22c" rid="f-d386f3b997bd" ref-type="fig">Figure 6</xref></bold>  showed that serum GSH concentration of the herbal extract treated groups (Group 1-3) increased in a dose dependent manner, which expressed as Group 3 &gt; Group 2 &gt; Group 1 (<italic id="emphasis-23">p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Serum GSH concentration was highest in Group 5, whereas Group 6 gave the lowest serum GSH concentration (<italic id="emphasis-24">p</italic> &lt; 0.05).</p>
      <p id="p-08644a96094e"/>
      <p id="p-d5c5d3b179e9">Serum ascorbic acid concentrations of Groups 1-3 were significantly reduced (<italic id="emphasis-25">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) compared to Group 1. However, serum ascorbic acid concentrations of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 were significantly higher (<italic id="emphasis-26">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) than Group 6. Furthermore, serum ascorbic acid concentration of Group 4 was significantly higher (<italic id="emphasis-27">p </italic>&gt; 0.05) than Group 6 but was significantly lower (<italic id="emphasis-28">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) than those of Group 1, Group 2 and Group3 (<bold id="s-2da3e00f369f"><xref id="x-d1a4ef3413f2" rid="f-f98517214c89" ref-type="fig">Figure 7</xref>)</bold>.</p>
      <p id="p-571f5d916ef9"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-21d3b3884159">Discussion</title>
      <p id="paragraph-16">DM is characterized by hyperglycemia as a result of impaired insulin secretion and/or action as well as alteration in carbohydrate, protein and lipid intermediary metabolism with loss in body weight<xref id="x-5fe260e2058e" rid="R58586213577585" ref-type="bibr">25</xref>. The results of the present study showed a significant increase (<italic id="emphasis-29">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) in the body weight of alloxan-induced DM rats administered various doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-30">V. doniana </italic> when compared with the DM control group (<bold id="s-5db1909fae73"><xref id="x-bd72b017ded5" rid="f-6ccf206a24a8" ref-type="fig">Figure 1</xref>)</bold>. The increase in body weight observed in DM rats administered phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-31">V. doniana </italic> was a result of the hypoglycemic action of <italic id="emphasis-32">V. doniana </italic><xref id="x-0e1322e0aae3" rid="R58586213577586" ref-type="bibr">26</xref>. Phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-33">V. doniana </italic> caused increased body weight of the experimental DM rats by increasing the rate of glucose catabolism and biosynthesis of fat and protein as was previously reported<xref rid="R58586213577587" ref-type="bibr">27</xref>,<xref rid="R58586213577588" ref-type="bibr">28</xref>. </p>
      <p id="p-79cb747054cc"/>
      <p id="p-f5c16d085d75">DM rats administered with various doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-34">V. doniana </italic> and dimethylguanide showed significant reduction (<italic id="emphasis-35">p </italic>&lt; 0.05) in serum glucose concentration compared with DM control. The hypoglycemic activity of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-36">V. doniana </italic>was a result of its stimulatory effect on β-cells to produce insulin<xref id="x-8040a7cf4261" rid="R58586213577589" ref-type="bibr">29</xref>, thereby enhancing glucose metabolism. Additionally, phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-37">V. doniana </italic>might have exhibited regenerative effect on pancreatic tissue as previously reported<xref rid="R58586213577590" ref-type="bibr">30</xref>,<xref rid="R58586213577591" ref-type="bibr">31</xref>. </p>
      <p id="p-00b480ca2c83"/>
      <p id="paragraph-18">Oxidative injury and lipid peroxidation can be monitored by a measure of liver MDA levels. Lipid peroxidation of cellular membrane structures due to free radical activity plays an important role in aging and complications of DM<xref rid="R58586213577566" ref-type="bibr">5</xref>,<xref rid="R58586213577567" ref-type="bibr">6</xref>. Excessive levels of free radical activity cause disruption of natural antioxidant defense systems and alter antioxidant enzyme activities in tissues<xref id="x-2388fc4d7cb8" rid="R58586213577568" ref-type="bibr">7</xref>. The results of this study (<bold id="s-e86a6a5fcc40"><xref id="x-12d4ab63cb3d" rid="f-0a78382fad83" ref-type="fig">Figure 4</xref>)</bold> showed a significant reduction (<italic id="emphasis-38">p</italic> &lt; 0.05) in serum MDA concentration of DM rats administered various doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-39">V. doniana</italic>. The significant reduction (<italic id="emphasis-40">p </italic>&lt; 0.05) in serum total MDA concentration of DM rats administered various doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-41">V. doniana </italic> suggests that the extract caused reduction in the rate of lipid peroxidation. </p>
      <p id="p-d46f0a9376df"/>
      <p id="p-2e908ce9d05e">High levels of free radicals and reduced levels of antioxidant enzyme activity lead to cell damage, inactivation of enzymes and lipid peroxidation<xref id="x-3bd99721f882" rid="R58586213577592" ref-type="bibr">32</xref>. The results of the present study (<bold id="s-9d4661cbe95d"><xref rid="f-0a78382fad83" ref-type="fig">Figure 4</xref>,<xref rid="f-5c650545ff04" ref-type="fig">Figure 5</xref>)</bold> showed a significant increase (<italic id="emphasis-42">p </italic>&lt; 0.05) in serum SOD and CAT activities in DM rats administered with various doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-43">V. doniana</italic>. The significant elevation (<italic id="emphasis-44">p </italic>&lt; 0.05) in SOD and CAT activities of DM rats administered various doses of Phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-45">V. doniana </italic>was a result of presence of phenolic compounds in the extract as previously reported<xref rid="R58586213577593" ref-type="bibr">33</xref>,<xref rid="R58586213577594" ref-type="bibr">34</xref>,<xref rid="R58586213577595" ref-type="bibr">35</xref>. The extract increased the rate of antioxidant enzymes activity, scavenges free radicals, and reduced the production of ROS. Yakubu <italic id="emphasis-46">et al.,</italic> <xref id="x-8924c85f48cc" rid="R58586213577596" ref-type="bibr">36</xref> reported that the extract reduced the production of ROS with concomitant increase in SOD activity.  </p>
      <p id="p-1ac998eb0595"/>
      <p id="paragraph-20">Loven <italic id="emphasis-47">et al.,</italic><xref id="x-964f3d6b1e46" rid="R58586213577597" ref-type="bibr">37</xref> and Mishra <italic id="emphasis-48">et al.,</italic><xref id="x-b45afc81fa55" rid="R58586213577598" ref-type="bibr">38</xref> reported that low levels of hepatic GSH caused reduced level of alleviation of oxidative stress in DM. The results of this study (<bold id="s-0c4aa014c9e4"><xref rid="f-d386f3b997bd" ref-type="fig">Figure 6</xref>,<xref rid="f-f98517214c89" ref-type="fig">Figure 7</xref>)</bold> showed a significant increase (<italic id="emphasis-49">p </italic>&lt; 0.05) in serum GSH and ascorbic acid concentrations of DM rats administered various doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-50">V. doniana</italic>. The significant increase (<italic id="emphasis-51">p </italic>&lt; 0.05) in GSH and ascorbic acid concentrations of DM rats administered various doses of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-52">V. doniana </italic> engendered the biosynthesis of GSH and/ or decreased production of free radicals, ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).</p>
      <p id="p-668e919ddc94"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-7e79e8ca1f55">Conclusion </title>
      <p id="p-aa1ad5dc2f22">The results of the present study indicated that phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-53">V. doniana </italic>promoted increased body weight, ameliorated DM and alleviated reduced antioxidant activities in alloxan-induced DM rats. Therefore, phenolic aqueous leaf extract of <italic id="emphasis-54">V. doniana </italic>could serve as a potential natural and safe remedy for the management of DM and/or delay in DM complications.</p>
      <p id="p-54e79457560b"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-ddee5703b5f0">Abbreviations</title>
      <p id="p-1232480bcd56"><bold id="s-adc1b6d4b4b2">AA</bold>: Ascorbic acid</p>
      <p id="p-fd096a13f434"><bold id="s-9375e8ab65a5">CAT</bold>: Catalase</p>
      <p id="p-a931fc6d48be"><bold id="s-12084635375e">DM</bold>: Diabetes mellitus</p>
      <p id="p-02535a5487c0"><bold id="s-ff7b228d2707">GSH</bold>: Glutathione</p>
      <p id="p-f95f7797fec7"><bold id="s-f90d9ee1e8b7">MDA</bold>: Malondialdehyde</p>
      <p id="p-98b29631ad38"><bold id="s-332065afb0b4">PBS</bold>: Phosphate buffered saline</p>
      <p id="p-9c55700e68be"><bold id="s-8b923b55e3a3">RNS</bold>: Reactive nitrogen species</p>
      <p id="p-059f23a9609f"><bold id="s-96e7f05d4541">ROS</bold>: Reactive oxygen species</p>
      <p id="p-27fc3c78c819"><bold id="s-d34f0bef5bd6">SOD</bold>: Superoxide dismutase</p>
      <p id="p-42b284b4e9a7"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-dd951c23b663">Acknowledgement</title>
      <p id="p-9129ced7b67f">The authors thank Professor S.C. Onyekwelu of the Department of Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria for technical support in the course of the experiment.</p>
      <p id="p-c899924b559a"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-efbacd5f5d7c">Author Contribution</title>
      <p id="p-225e27b4162c">Envisaged and designed the experiments: Iheanacho, K.M.E, Nwachukwu, R.N. and Agha, N.C; Extract preparation, animal study and measurement of biochemical parameters: Obasi, E.; Data analysis: Obasi, E., Chikezie, P.C.; Manuscript writing: Obasi, E., Chikezie, P.C. All authors reviewed, commented and approved the final manuscript.</p>
      <p id="p-c5da0f9c99e7"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-37c50716a86c">
        <bold id="s-3ecb2f76fc37">Open Access</bold>
      </title>
      <p id="p-577969c26619">This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0) which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited. </p>
      <p id="p-34183f93ec9e"/>
    </sec>
    <sec>
      <title id="t-4985bbcfa239">
        <bold id="s-30635030c4c0">Competing Interests</bold>
      </title>
      <p id="p-267773ad4cdc">The authors declare that no competing interests exist.</p>
      <p id="p-f00d7688543b"/>
    </sec>
  </body>
  <back>
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