Comparative Effect of Aspirin, Meloxicam and Terminalia catappa Leaf Extract on Serum Levels of Some Inflammatory Markers in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: The association between diabetes mellitus and inflammation is established but the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is not without some health risk.

Aim: The study was aimed at comparing the levels of some inflammatory biomarkers in diabetic rats treated with aqueous leaf extract of Terminalia catappa, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and exogenous insulin.

Materials and Methods: Thirty six (36) Wistar rats were assigned to 6 groups of 6 animals each. Group 1 and 2 served as normal and diabetic controls and received orally 5ml/kg body weight of distilled water. Group 3 was diabetic treated orally with 130mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract of Terminalia catappa. And groups 4, 5 and 6 were administered orally with aspirin (30mg/kg), meloxicam (2mg/kg) and 0.75U/kg body weight of insulin subcutaneously. Diabetes was induced with intraperitoneal injection of 150mg/kg body weight of alloxan solution and diabetes confirmed after 72 hours with blood glucose levels ≥200mg/dl. The experiment lasted for 14 days and blood was collected by cardiac puncture for serum analysis of C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6 and Fibrinogen by ELISA method.

Results: The results showed significant (P<0.05) increase in serum levels of C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6 and blood fibrinogen in diabetic group compared to control. These inflammatory biomarker were significantly (P<0.05) reduced by the extract, aspirin, meloxicam and insulin.

Conclusion: The reduced levels of C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6 and fibrinogen by aqueous leaf extract of Terminalia catappa was significant compared to aspirin and meloxicam. This may present the extract as a potent anti-inflammatory agent and could complement the function of insulin in diabetes treatment.