Crateva adansonii is a plant species belonging to the family; Capparaceae, with multiple therapeutic uses in the traditional settings, including diabetes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antiradical and anti-hyperglycaemic properties of the aqueous extract of the bark of the trunk of Crateva adansonii. The anti-hyperglycaemic properties of the extract was evaluated by the inhibition test of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro confirmed by an in vivo study, on starch and sucrose tolerance tests using acarbose as witness. Indeed, during the starch and sucrose tolerance tests, 50 rats previously fasted without water for 16 hours were divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each and then their blood glucose levels were tested. Ten (10) minutes after pre-treatment with distilled water (10 ml/kg), acarbose (10 mg/kg) and the extract at doses of 200, 250 and 300 mg/kg, 3 g/kg of starch or sucrose was administered to each rat and their blood glucose levels were tested every 30 minutes for 2 hours. Anti-radical activity was tested by DPPH, ABTS and the antioxidant was examined using the FRAP tests. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract of the bark of the trunk of Crateva adansonii shows the presence of polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes and anthraquinones. However, it is void of alkaloids. In addition, the total contents of polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins were quantified at 7±0.5mg Eq GA/g ES, 100.5±3 mg Eq QC/g ES and 20±2.8 mg Eq C/g ES respectively. The results showed thatthe extract significantly reduce (P<0.05) enzymatic activities of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase with IC50s of 320.87± 21.59 µg/ml and 97.03± 33.51 µg/ml respectively. For starch and sucrose tolerance tests, the extract at doses of 250 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg resulted in a significant decrease in blood glucose level at 60min, 90min and 120min compared to the control group. The extract also has a good scavenging activity of DPPH free radicals (IC50=30±0.1 µg/ml), ABTS° (IC50=30 ±0.2) and a good reducing power towards ferrous ions (EC50=290±5 µg/ml). These results effectively show that the aqueous extract of the bark of the trunk of Crateva adansonii possesses antiradical, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycaemic properties, confirming the use of this plant by phytotherapists in the treatment of diabetes.

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