Anti-diabetic action of the aqueous extract of <i>Ocimum suave</i> in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The anti-diabetic action of the aqueous extract of Ocimum suave in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was  investigated. Male Wister strain albino rats (120 to 150 g) were divided into five groups of five animals each, three of which were made diabetic using alloxan. All rats in the diabetic groups had initial fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels .150 mg/dl, but after three weeks of treatment with extract or glibenclamide; the FBG significantly (p<0.05) dropped between 44 and 58%, as compared to the 13% drop recorded in the untreated diabetic rats. Diabetes also caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in packed cell volume which was completely prevented by administration of the extract. Untreated diabetes caused significant increases in serum total - and high density lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol (CHL), while significantly reducing the serum triacyglycerols (TG). Treatment with O. suave extract caused significant increase in the serum levels of TG and HDL-CHL, above the diabetic levels; while it reduced (p<0.05) total CHL to values lower than normal. Liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was unaffected by diabetes but it was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the kidney; this increase was completely  prevented by treatment with the extract. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the kidney was significantly reduced by diabetes but it was further reduced by administration of the extract to diabetic rats. The serum levels of urea and alanine transaminase were significantly increased above normal in untreated diabetic rats; treatment with the extract did not significantly change the situation. It is concluded that the aqueous extract of O. suave has anti-hyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects as well as antioxidant action in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Key words: Ocimum suave, diabetes mellitus, anti-hyperglycemic, oxidative stress, anti-oxidant.