Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic properties of methanol leaf extract of <i>Napoleonaea imperialis</i> in streptozotocin induced -diabetic rats

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the antidiabetic and lipid profiles of methanol leaf extract of Napoleonaea imperialis in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Forty- two male albino rats of mean weight 140 g were used for the study. The animals were grouped into seven groups of six rats each. Group 1 is the normal control. Group 2 is the diabetic untreated group. Group 3 is the positive control. Groups 4, 5 and 6 were the test groups that were orally given 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the methanol leaf extract, respectively. Group 7 is the group that received the extract only. Treatment lasted for 28 days, after which the animals were sacrificed under mild anesthesia. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. The result from the study showed that there was significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the blood glucose concentration of the test groups, when compared with the diabetic untreated group. The lipid profile showed that there was significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the concentration of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in high density lipoprotein in the treated groups when compared with the diabetic untreated group. The study indicates that methanol leaf extract of Napoleonae imperialis possesses antidiabetic and hypolipidemic potentials and thus could be utilized in the management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.