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Anti-Diabetic Activities of the Methanol Leaf Extracts of Hymenocardia acida (Tul.) in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats
Abstract
The effect of methanolic extract of Hymenocardia acida leaves on diabetes and associated lipidemia were investigated on experimentally-induced diabetic rats. The extract did not demonstrate any acutely toxic effect in rats within the dose range (250 mg/kg - 2000 mg/kg) employed in the study; hence it was well tolerated by the rats. In all experiments, the anti-diabetic effects were dose-dependent and comparable to that of glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) standard. At a dose of 500 mg/kg, lipid profile markers such as the serum total cholesterol (TC) levels, LDL-C, triglycerides and HDL-C were significantly lower (p <0.05) than those of both the treated and untreated controls.
Keywords: Hymenocardia acida, Diabetes mellitus, Lipid profile, Glibenclamide, Alloxan monohydrate