Antioxidant, hypolipidemic and Hypoglycemic Effect of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Chrysophyllum albidum on Streptozotocin- Induced Diabetic Rats

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-diabetic effect of Chrysophyllum albidum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats (l 70-200g) were used, of which twenty rats were randomised into four groups (n= 5). Group A received normal saline 10 ml. Group B, C and D received C. albidum by gavage at a dose of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively. The prophylactic study was performed with thirty rats divided into six groups (n=5). Groups E and F received only normal saline; group G received 2 mg/kg of glibenclamide; groups H, I and J received 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day of ethanolic leave extracts of C. albidum respectively. With the exception of group E, animals in groups F-J was challenged with 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin intraperitoneally after two weeks of oral administration of normal saline, extract and glibenclamide. Administration of normal saline, extract and glibenclamide was continued for another two weeks. The animals were fasted overnight before they were sacrifice on day 14th and their blood samples and pancreas were collected for biochemical assays. Results showed significant elevation in Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, and Glutathione activities (p< 0.05); and decrease in malondialdehyde. The extract significantly increased (p < 0.05) High density lipoprotein and also significantly reduced (p < 0.05) Low density lipoprotein, Triglycerides and Total cholesterol. It can be concluded that C. albidum possesses hypoglycemic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic potentials, thereby justifying support for its anti-diabetic use in folk medicine.

Key Words: Chrysophyllum albidum, Diabetes, Streptozotocin, Oxidatives stress, lipid profile