Background and Objective: Diabetes, a prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia primarily due to insulin action and secretion, poses significant health challenges, particularly in low to medium-income countries such as the Philippines. Quassia amara, a shrub indigenous to South America and present in the Philippines, holds a rich history of utilization in alternative and complementary therapies. While previous studies have demonstrated the hypoglycemic effects of Quassia amara stem wood, investigations into the potential impact of its leaves on blood glucose levels remain scarce. Thus, this study aimed to assess the blood glucose-lowering effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Quassia amara (ALQa) on ICR strain mice. Methods: Diabetes was induced in thirty male ICR mice via intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (200 mg/kg) dissolved in 0.9% Normal Saline. The mice were divided into five groups (n=6), Group I: negative control (distilled water), Group II: reference standard glibenclamide (4 mg/kg): Groups III-V: three doses of ALQa (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) via oral gavage. A glucometer was used to monitor the fasting blood glucose levels at 0, 1-, 2-, 6-, and 24-hour postadministration. Results: Administration of alloxan monohydrate increased the FBS in the treated group to diabetic levels of >200 mg/dL. The treatment of diabetic mice with ALQa extract significantly reduced fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels in a dose-dependent manner with the highest dose of ALQa (500 mg/kg) having glucoselowering effects comparable to glibenclamide beginning with the 2-hour mark until 24-hour post-intervention. The mean FBS at 0-hour (baseline) and 1-hour postintervention were similar for all the groups. However, there was an increase in the mean FBS of the negative control group treated with distilled water in the first hour while there was already a decrease in the FBS of those allocated to glibenclamide and the three doses of ALQa. At both the second and 6-hour mark post-intervention, the mean FBS of the mice treated with ALQa 250 mg/ kg and 500 mg/kg was comparable to glibenclamide. Finally, at the 24th hour post-intervention, only the mice allocated to 500 mg/kg of ALQa had comparable FBS to glibenclamide. The degree of reduction [mean percent reduction] of the FBS from baseline to the 24th hour was 78% for glibenclamide and 69% for ALQa 500 mg/kg (p =0.816). Conclusions The aqueous extract of Quassia amara leaf at 250 and 500 mg/kg produced a dose-dependent significant blood glucose-lowering effect in the alloxan-induced diabetic mice model. The 500 mg dose demonstrated a statistically comparable reduction in FBS to glibenclamide from the 2-hour time point. These f indings suggest the potential of ALQa as an antidiabetic agent. Thus, warranting further investigation into its therapeutic mechanisms and clinical applications.
Quassia amara ; Quassia