Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of <i>Chrysophyllum cainito</i> (Udara bekee) herbal tea on diabetic rats

Abstract

Chrysophyllum cainito leaves were processed into a herbal tea and the antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of this herbal tea were evaluated on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. . The rats were grouped into four treatment groups: DC (diabetic group fed with rat feed and water), CON1 (diabetic group fed with rat feed and 1 g/100 ml of tea intake), CON2 (diabetic group fed with rat feed and 2 g/100 ml of tea intake) and CON3 (diabetic group fed with rat feed and 3 g/100 ml of tea intake). Feed, water or herbal tea were provided ad libitum for the respective groups for twenty one days. At the end of the treatment period, the average fasting blood glucose concentration of the diabetic group DC increased from 357.8 mg/dl to 574.12 mg/dl while those of the diabetic groups CON1, CON2 and CON3, decreased from 317.2 mg/dl to 119.6 mg/dl; 344.8 mg/dl to 254.6 mg/dl and 337.0 mg/dl to 322.4 mg/dl, respectively. Chrysophyllum cainito tea was effective in controlling diabetes at low concentration of 1 gm/100 ml of intake. The diabetic groups CON1, CON2 and CON3 that took different concentrations of the herbal tea also showed significant reduction in their mean serum triglyceride, LDL and VLDL levels and increase in HDL level, when compared with the diabetic group DC that did not take the tea.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, herbal tea, antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic