Antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activities of hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol fractions of Paspalum scrobiculatum linn. grains in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle are the major causes of increasing obesity, which in turn causes diabetes and cardiovascular problems. With this alarming increase, there is a need for alternative therapies to treat diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Objectives: To evaluate antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects of fractions of Paspalum scrobiculatum grains in rats. Materials and Methods: Different doses of Hexane: Ethyl acetate fraction of P. scrobiculatum (HEPS) and Ethyl acetate: Methanol fraction of P. scrobiculatum (EMPS) fractions of P. scrobiculatum were administered to the high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats with glibenclamide at 20 mg/kg body weight (b.w) as a standard reference. Biochemical and histopathological changes were assessed after 5 weeks of treatment. Results: Daily oral treatment with HEPS and EMPS each at 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w for 5 weeks was found to be significant in the reduction of plasma glucose levels, HbA1c, increased plasma insulin levels, and normalized lipid profile and liver function parameters in HFD and STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, degenerative histopathological changes seen in liver, kidney, and pancreas of diabetic rats were found to be normalized in HEPS and EMPS as comparable to that of glibenclamide-treated rats. Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that HEPS and EMPS fractions of P. scrobiculatum grains possess promising antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic potential without apparent toxic effects, which may prove the claimed use of the plant in treatment of diabetes and dyslipidemia.