Asian Journal of Research in Biosciences

Diabetes mellitus is associated with persistent hyperglycaemia, altered glucose metabolism, and inflammatory activation. This study evaluated the effects of methanolic leaf extract of Rhus longipes on fasting blood glucose, glucose-6-phosphatase activity, glucose transporter type 4, and nuclear factor-kappa B levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were allocated to six groups of five rats each. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin at 30 mg/kg body weight. Diabetic rats received glibenclamide at 5 mg/kg or methanolic leaf extract of Rhus longipes at 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg orally for 21 days. Fasting blood glucose was measured, while glucose-6-phosphatase activity, glucose transporter type 4, and nuclear factor-kappa B levels were assessed using biochemical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test at p < 0.05. Streptozotocin administration increased fasting blood glucose from 80.00 ± 4.08 mg/dL in normal control rats to 340.00 ± 65.57 mg/dL in untreated diabetic rats. Treatment with Rhus longipes extract reduced fasting blood glucose to 105.33 ± 22.14, 102.00 ± 29.10, and 117.67 ± 28.02 mg/dL at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Untreated diabetic rats showed reduced glucose-6-phosphatase activity and increased nuclear factor-kappa B levels. Extract-treated groups showed increased glucose-6-phosphatase activity towards control values and reduced nuclear factor-kappa B concentrations. Glucose transporter type 4 levels varied among groups, with the highest value observed in untreated diabetic rats. These findings suggest that methanolic leaf extract of Rhus longipes improved fasting blood glucose and altered selected metabolic and inflammatory markers in this experimental model. Further studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms.