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THE EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ACANTHUS MONTANUS ON FASTING BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS OF ADULT WISTAR RATS

1.1     Background of the Study

Plants are living things that usually have root, stem, leaves to produce fruits and seeds. Plants naturally grow on the surface of the earth (Akpanabiatu et al., 2005). Human being has faced series of challenges in preventing and eliminating diseases in the body. The discovery of the efficacy of certain plant species in herbal remedies by man may have come as a result of trial and error (Hostettmann et al., 2000). This however, has created some gap in common believe on the treatment of ailments among some related and unrelated human societies of the world. The importance of medicinal plants as well as their roles in nature cannot be over emphasized (Shirwakar et al., 2006).  Most plants are edible and contain different amount of vitamins, protein or carbohydrates etc., these helps the body to replace worn out cells or tissues, digest food and combat ailments among other health related problems. Phytochemical analysis on certain plant species by some modern practitioners have shown some corresponding results with already existing tradomedical information while in some cases have differed completely thereby causing doubt in herbal treatment.  Since the dawn of history, man has been faced with the challenges of eliminating ailments completely, which inheritance has not been met, therefore different ages have been adopting different measures to help check ailments but from creation to date, plants have always been among the most effective primary measures for this check (Porter, 1997).

Series of medicinal plants are continually being utilized for therapeutic purposes in treating diseases in the traditional ethno-medicinal system. Plants have a core ability to combat ailment and maintain one’s state of good health, since it provides the body with vital nutrients (Coskum et al., 2005). Scientifically, plants have been proven to have the ability to cure ailments by providing some necessary nutrients which may be lacking in the body or by attacking the causative organisms themselves. On the other hand, different plant species perform varied roles (ecological niche) which has been harnessed by the ancient and correspondingly used to combat human pathology. Man has used plants from the earliest times to cure disease and relieve physical suffering (Mbagwu, 2009). Medicinal value of drug plant is due to the presence of some chemical substances (active ingredients) that produce a definite physiological action in the human body (Mbagwu, 2009).