Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Hypoglycaemic Potentials of the Leaf Extracts of Stachytarphyta jamaicensis (Verbenaceae)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a syndrome with abnormalities in carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. The central disturbance in DM is a derangement in insulin production or action or both, although other factors can be involved. Hyperglycaemia is commonly the end point for all types of diabetes mellitus and is the factor that is measured to evaluate and manage the efficacy of diabetes therapy. 1 DM is a disease of gradual onset and the symptoms, when they eventually appear, do not provoke immediate attention and thus can remain undiagnosed at onset and even when diagnosed is usually not given attention by persons afflicted by the disease. 2 DM is typically not reversible and, although patients can have a reasonably normal lifestyle, its late complications can cause a reduced life expectancy and major health cost. These include microvascular assault causing diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy and