Abstract:
This study was designed to screen the methanolic extract of the leaves of Murraya
koenigii (L.) Sprengel (curry leaf-tree) for secondary metabolites (phytochemical
constituents), and investigate its effects on selected organs and serum biochemical
parameters of female Wistar albino rats.
Phytochemical screening revealed that the extract contains tannin(s) and
cardiac glycoside( s). The LDso of the extract was found to be 316.23 mg/kg body
weight. There was significant (P :::;0.05) reduction in the body weights of the
experimental animals compared with the control (group 0). Conversely, there was
significant (P :::;0.05) increase in the relative weights of liver and kidney especially
at 450 mg/kg dose, while there was no effect on the relative organ weights of lungs
and heart. However, t he results of the spleen weight did not follow a particular
trend. There was significant (P :::;0.05) reduction in the serum cholesterol, aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin and blood glucose of the experimental animals
while alkaline phosphatase increased with extract administration. The extract
literally has no effect on the haematological parameters.
The hypoglycemic and hypocholesteromic activities of the methanolic
extract of Murraya koenigii (L.) coupled with the relative safety (less than 250
mg/kg body weight) hold some promise in combating diabetes and/or heart
diseases.
