~ 109 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2014; 2 (6): 109-114 ISSN 2278-4136 ISSN 2349-82346 JPP 2014; 2 (6): 109-114 Received: 28-01-2014 Accepted: 11-02-2014 Ezekwe, Ahamefula Sunday Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. Email: dr_roydavidson@yahoo.com Elekwa, Ify Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria Email: drifyelekwa@yahoo.com Osuocha, Kelechi Uzoma Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria Email: osuochak@gmail.com Correspondence: Ezekwe, Ahamefula Sunday Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imo State, University, Owerri Email: dr_roydavidson@yahoo.com Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and body weight effects of unripe pulp of Carica papaya using diabetic Albino rat model. Ezekwe, Ahamefula Sunday., Elekwa, Ify., Osuocha, Kelechi Uzoma. ABSTRACT The present study was designed to evaluate some selected biochemical effects of unripe pulp of Carica papaya on alloxan induced diabetes in rats. Animals weighing (160-200 g) were divided into three (3) groups of 10 animals each; Group I (normal control), Group II (diabetic control) and Group III (test control). Diabetes was induced in albino rats by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate at a single dose of 120 mg/kg body weight into groups II and III respectively. Animals in groups I and II received normal rat feeds while animals in group III were fed with unripe pulp of Carica papaya for a period of 28 days. Body weight and glucose levels were measured on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and day 28. It was observed in this study that there was a significant reduction of Glycated hemoglobin in the test group when compared with the induced control (diabetic rats) and normal control group (P<0.05). The unripe pulp of Carica papaya elicited significant (P<0.05) reduction of blood glucose, lipid profile parameters except high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) which significantly increased (p<0.05). Result also showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in body weight. These action is believed to be due to the bioactive constituents of the plant. Unripe pulp of Carica papaya exhibits proven potentials in the parameters evaluated to become of important medicinal and pharmacological interest. Keywords: Carica papaya, unripe pulp, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia. 1. Introduction Plants have been used by mankind as remedies from the beginning of civilization. The uses of medicinal plants as traditional medicine are well known. This is mainly due to the presence of bioactive metabolite in plants which formed the basis of herbal medication [1] . Medicinal herbs used in indigenous medicines for the management of diabetes mellitus contain both organic and inorganic constituents [1] . Some of these inorganic trace elements possess antidiabetic properties, which accounts for the activity of medicinal herbs [2] . Carica papaya linn [family Caricaceae] is a widely grown, perennial tropical tree which grows up to 5 to 10 meters tall with an erect and branchless trunk, its leaves are large, 50–70 cm in diameter deeply palmately lobed with 7 lobes [3] . Its melon - like fruit [papaya] is known by different names in different parts of the world. Ethno-botanical survey conducted by some researchers have indicated the seeds are reputed for the management of various human and veterinary diseases including abdominal discomfort, pain, malaria, diabetes, obesity, infections and oral drug poisonings by the Yoruba herbalists South West Nigeria [4] . In spite of the presence of known anti-diabetics in the pharmaceutical market, remedies from medicinal plants are used with success to treat this disease [5] . Treatment imposes economic burden [6] and the documented incidence is quite ambiguous. Different parts of the plant are attributed with different medicinal values, for example in African traditional medicine, the boiled green leaves of papaya, combined with leaves of Azadirachta indica, Cymbopogon citratus, Psidium guajava, and stem bark of Alstonia boonei boiled together and the hot infusion is drank as one wine glass full thrice daily in the treatment of malaria [4] . Its fresh leaves are also efficacious in the treatment of gonorrhea, syphilis and amoebic dysentery [7] .