Effect of <i>Ficus capensis</i> chloroform extract and <i>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</i> n-hexane extract on blood glucose and lipids in normal Wistar rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the stem bark and leaf extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ficus capensis on the blood glucose and lipid profile in normal albino rats. Forty adult albino rats were classified into two sets (blood glucose and lipid profile determination) with five groups comprising of four animals per group. The first four groups (treatment groups) in each set were administered 100, 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg body weight of each extract, the fifth group (control group) received 5 ml of 0.90% normal saline solution for a 7 days duration. The result showed a decrease in blood glucose concentration in a dose dependent manner but was however seen to increase at 1200 mg/kg bw when the chloroform extract of F. capensis was administered. The nhexane extract of E. camaldulensis caused a corresponding increase in blood glucose concentration in a dose dependent manner. In both determinations and in comparison, to the control group, there were statistically significant differences between the treatment groups at 95% confidence level for all lipid parameters determined. The findings of this study indicate that while the chloroform extract of F. capensis possesses anti-diabetic property, the n – hexane extract of E. camaldulensis does not have anti-diabetic effect, but rather appears to promote bioavailability of glucose in the blood. Both extracts however showed promising anti-lipidemic activity.

Keywords: Eucalyptus camaldulensis; Ficus capensis; Glucose; Lipids