Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidaemic Activities of Solvent Extracts of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> Leaves in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Aqueous, methanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Ocimum basilicum leaves at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight was investigated  for hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of 200 mg/kg of the solvent  extract for 35 days resulted in a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the fasting blood glucose levels of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.  The extracts at the dose of 2 g/kg body weight enhanced the glucose clearance of the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The extracts  significantly (P<0.05) reduced the total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol in all treated groups when compared with the  diabetic control with significantly (P<0.05) higher values of HDL-cholesterol. The extracts exhibited hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic  activities in the diabetic rats and hence may be the basis for its folkloric use in the management of diabetic patients in Nigeria.