Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Alcoholic Extract of Common Sage (Salvia Officinalis) In Streptozotocin –Induced Diabetic Rabbits

Abstract

The hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effect of alcoholic extract of common sage (Salvia officinalis) on streptozotocin-induced
diabetic rabbits was evaluated. Twenty-five male rabbits were used and grouped as follows: - Group A- Diabetic control, Group
B - Diabetic rabbits + glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg), Group C - Diabetic rabbits + alcoholic leaf extract at 250 mg/kg and Group
D - Diabetic rabbits + leaf extract at 500 mg/kg. Group E- served as normal non-diabetic control. The animals were given a
standard diet and water ad libitum. Diabetes was induced in the rabbits by a single intra-peritoneal injection of freshly prepared
streptozotocin 50 mg/kg b.w. followed by 120 mg/kg of nicotinamide in 0.1 M citrate buffer, pH 4.5 in a volume of 0.5 ml/kg
b.w. Blood samples were collected on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days from the marginal ear vein of the animals and analysed for
blood glucose and lipid profile levels. The standard/investigational drugs treated rabbits showed a marked decrease in the level
of blood glucose when compared with the diabetic control at a significant level of p < 0.001. The alcoholic extract of common
sage leaf (at 250mg/dl and 500mg/dl) showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in blood glucose compared with the diabetic
control rabbits. The administration of the leaf extract at 250mg/dl and 500mg/dl to the animals prevented gross alterations in the
lipid profile levels