Hypolipidaemic And Antioxidant Properties Of <i>Ocimum gratissimum</i> On Diabetic Rats

Abstract

It has been shown that many minor components of food, such as some plant metabolites may possess hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activities, thus reducing the effects of oxidative stress on diabetic and other disease conditions. This study was designed to investigate the effect of aqueous extract from Ocimum gratissimum leaf (200 mg/kg) on lipid profiles and oxidative stress in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. The classes of chemical components of the aqueous extract of the plant were determined. Glycosides, alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, were found to be present while cyanogenic glycosides was not detected. Acute toxicity test in rats gave an LD50 of 1050.45 ± 64 mg /kg. The results showed that the streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were subjected to oxidative stress as was shown by the extent of lipid peroxidation (high malondialdehyde levels) present in plasma. The aqueous extract of O. gratissimum leaves decreased the malondialdehyde levels. High values of LDL- cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels, which are typical of the diabetic condition, were found to be reduced significantly in the diabetic rats by the aqueous extract of O. gratissimum. This study shows that the aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum may possess both hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activities

Keywords: O. gratissimum, Lipoproteins, Oxidative status, Diabetic rats.

Plant Product Research Journal Vol. 11 2007: pp. 1-4