EFFECT OF AVOCADO LEAF EXTRACT ON HYPERGLYCEMIA

Hyperglycemia 

Hyperglycemia is high blood glucose levels in the body. This means that there is too much sugar in the bloodstream and the body does not have enough insulin to get rid of it. This issue has a common association with diabetes according to The Clevelend Clinic. If hyperglycemia goes untreated it can cause damage to nerves, blood vessels, tissue, and organs. If there is damage to blood vessels it can lead to many other risks including heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and more. Although there are many lifestyle changes and drugs that can be used to manage hyperglycemia, scientists are also looking for more natural ways to lower blood sugar. 

The Avocado Leaf Benefits and Uses

Persea americana mill, more commonly known as avocado, has leaves that were evaluated for their effectiveness on anti-diabetic needs. Many Latin American and African tribes including one in South Nigeria has been known to use avocado leaves for arthritis pain and diabetic on patients because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Avocado leaves have numerous benefits which have a wide range of effectiveness. New findings are beginning to come out which indicate effectiveness on high blood sugar which is commonly associated with diabetes.

Hypoglycemic activity of aqueous leaf extract of persea americana Mill - 2005

A study released in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology researched at the University of Uyo in Nigeria focused on the effects of avocado leaf extract on diabetic patients. This research was a  collaboration between the Department of Chemistry, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the university. 

This study was conducted on 25 adult Wistar rats who are commonly used for pharmaceutical testing Each received a dose of alloxan to induce a diabetic effect. Alloxan is a chemical known to induce diabetes through an insulin release to evaluate the effects of avocado leaf extract in the subject. 

The rats were divided up into five groups. Among the groups three received different dosage levels of the avocado leaf extract, one received chlorpropamide which is used to treat high blood sugar, and the final group did not receive anything at all. 

Once the rats were orally given the avocado leaf extract and the other groups received their treatments the subjects were monitored for seven days. The scientists specifically focused on their blood glucose level, monitoring them every couple of hours for the first day and then continuing the treatment and monitoring them for the following days. 

The results showed that the “Maximum anti-diabetic activity was reached at 6 h after a single dose of the extract…The extract (100-200 mg/kg) produced a sustained…anti-diabetic activity during prolonged treatment (7 days).” This study proved at the seven day mark the rats who received the avocado leaf extract, highlighting the 200 mg dosage, had a significant reduction in blood glucose levels.

Conclusion of this study states:

“The observation confirms the use of this plant in ethnomedical practice for diabetes management and demonstrated that long-term treatment for 7 days was more effective than single dose acute treatment.” 

 The results of the study show the effectiveness of avocado leaf extract on blood glucose levels.