Hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects of Lasianthera africana leaf powder in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

In this study, the effects of oral administration of doses of Lasianthera africana leaf powder on blood glucose and serum lipid levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetic mellitus was induced by a single dose intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight). Male albino rats were divided into normal control, diabetic or negative control, diabetic treated with a standard anti-diabetic drug (metformin at 100 mg/kg daily) (positive control) and three diabetic groups (n = 5) treated with doses (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 g/kg body weight) of Lasianthera africana leaf powder. The test sample was orally administered for 28 days and the effects on the levels of blood glucose, body weight, organs weight and serum lipid profile were evaluated. The results showed that the treatment significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the elevated fasting blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratios when compared with the diabetic control rats. The treatment also caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in HDL-cholesterol, HDL/TC ratio and body weight relative to the diabetic control group. The intensity of the hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects varied with the doses. The most effective dose was 1.00 g/kg body weight. The effects of the leaf powder on the above parameters were comparable to that of a standard anti-diabetic drug (metformin). These results clearly indicated that Lasianthera africana leaf powder possesses promising anti-diabetic and anti-lipidaemic effects.

Keywords: Lasianthera africana leaf powder, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, diabetic rat