Biological evaluation of Leucaena Leucocephala for antidiabetic properties - a proposal

Herbs have been widely used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of disease and maintenance of health. Malaysia has a rich variety of herbs that is traditionally believed to have therapeutic value. Nevertheless, this value is not yet been proven by scientific study. Among the plants that have been scientifically studied are centella asiatica for antihypertensive activity, eurycoma longifolia for antimalaria properties and morinda citrifolia for immune system enhancement. Leucaena leucocephala, which is locally known as petai belalang is ordinary species in tropical area. Malaysian has used it for the treatment of diabetes. The objective of this study is to observe the antidiabetic effects of aqueous extract of leucaena leucocephala leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic will be induced intravenous with alloxan 150mg/kg. Extract will be administered orally to adult male sprague dawley rats. Blood glucose, serum lipid and pancreatic amylase will be determined with automatic biochemistry analysor. Serum insulin will be determined by radioimmunoassay whereas morphology of pancreatic islet will be examined using microscope. If leucaena leucocephala has antidiabetic properties, blood glucose level will be decreased. (Author)