TETRAPLEURA TETRAPTERA SAPONINS ON

Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. and Thonn) Taub, is a leguminous multipurpose tree (Mimosoideae) indigenous to tropical Africa. The plant has long medicinal significance as a molluscide, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent. This study evaluated the effect of Tetrapleura tetraptera saponins on cardiac histology of Streptozotocin diabetic Wistar rats. Saponin fraction of T. tetraptera stem bark was orally administered to streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats at 10, 20 and 40mg/kg body weight (Group 4, 5 and 6). The effect of saponins on cardiac histology of the treated diabetic rats were compared with untreated control rats (Group 1), untreated diabetic control rats (Group 2) and metformin treated diabetic rats (Group 3) after 12 weeks of treatment. Treatment with graded doses of Tetrapleura tetraptera saponins and standard drug metformin resolved the lesions remarkably in the heart tissue with 20mg/kg body weight extract comparing favorably with metformin. There was an additional beneficial effect of vasodilation and increase in blood flow by the extract. The results from this study revealed that Tetrapleura tetraptera saponins ameliorated Streptozotocin induced pathology of heart tissues and may have resolved the lesions remarkably in the heart, with 20mg/kg body weight dose proving to have the best therapeutic effect.