ANTIDIABETIC PROPERTIES OF METHANOL STEM BARK EXTRACT OF Parkia biglobosa IN DIABETIC Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

This study investigated the antidiabetic properties of methanol stem bark extract of Parkia biglobosa in diabetic Drosophila melanogaster. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The use of Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model offers a cost-effective and genetically tractable alternative to mammalian models for studying diabetes and metabolic diseases. Flies were induced with diabetes using a high-sucrose diet (120 g sucrose per 1.2 L diet) and subsequently treated with graded concentrations of Parkia biglobosa stem bark extract (3.16 mg/10 g, 6.32 mg/10 g, and 9.48 mg/10 g diet). Metformin served as a standard positive drug. The levels of glucose, glycogen, and trehalose were determined using enzymatic colorimetric methods. Results revealed that diabetes induction caused a significant increase in glucose and trehalose levels and a decrease in glycogen content when compared to the normal control group. Treatment with Parkia biglobosa extract led to a dose-dependent reduction in glucose and trehalose levels, alongside restoration of glycogen content, similar to the metformin-treated group. The study concluded that the methanol stem bark extract of Parkia biglobosa exhibits antidiabetic potential in Drosophila melanogaster, possibly through mechanisms involving improved carbohydrate metabolism and insulin-like peptide regulation.