Table 10 Experimental design and treatment protocol for the anti-diabetic study [42, 43]

I

Normal control rats (NC); received carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) of 0.3% w/v p.o for 21 days

II

Diabetic control rats (STZ); received a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 55 mg/kg b.w. i.p.) prepared in 0.05 M ice-cold citrate buffer solution at pH 4.5

III

Treatment (STZ + High dose of the HELeKP); following the confirmation of the increased blood glucose levels, this group received the hydro-ethanolic extract of the plant at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. p.o. once daily for 21 days

IV

Treatment (STZ + Low dose of the HELeKP); following the confirmation of the increased blood glucose levels, this group received the hydro-ethanolic extract of the plant at a dose of 66.6 mg/kg b.w. p.o. once daily for 21 days

V

Standard (STZ + Metformin); following the confirmation of the increased blood glucose levels, this group received the standard metformin at a dose of 5 mg/kg b.w. p.o. once daily for 21 days