Abstract
This study was aimed at comparing the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities of various doses (1.0, 2.0ml and 3.0ml) of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum and glibenclamide (a reference hypoglycemic drug). Ninety (90) male wistar albino rats were used. The rats were divided into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F) of five rats each. The experiment was replicated three times. The first group, A was non diabetic while B to F was made diabetic using alloxan. Results obtained showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in blood glucose level (mg/dl) following the administration of Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract in groups D and E (139.96±7.2mg/dl and 106.64±4.30mg/dl) when compared to the diabetic control group B (299.34±1.30mg/dl). Administration of glibenclamide (antidiabetic drug) also resulted in a significant drop in the blood glucose levels between week 1 and 4. The effects of Ocimum gratissimum and glibenclamide on the blood glucose level are significantly the same at the final week (week 4). The effect of 2.0ml and 3.0ml (groups C and D) of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum on total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compared favourably with the reference drug (glibenclamide) whereby they all have significant difference (P<0.05) on these biochemical parameters when compared to the diabetic control. All doses of Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extract increased the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (37.41±1.07mg/dl, 42.09±1.22mg/dl and 49.76±0.63mg/dl) when compared to the diabetic control group (32.27±1.68). The effect of highest dose (3.0ml) of Ocimum gratissimum extract on high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (49.76±0.63) compares favourably with the effect seen on the reference drug (glibenclamide) (50.15±1.17). The results suggest that the leaf aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum at 3.0ml dosage has antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect and would be of benefit in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus, controlling the blood sugar level as well as in preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes mellitus.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which a person has a high blood sugar level, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because body cells do not properly respond to the insulin that is being produced [7]
The mean fasting blood glucose levels of diabetic and non diabetic albino rats subjected to different treatments (Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract, glibenclamide and distilled water) for four weeks are presented in Figure 1, the purple bars represents the initial glucose level after administering alloxan, and the green bars represents the final glucose level at the end of the experiment
There was a significant difference (p
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which a person has a high blood sugar level, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because body cells do not properly respond to the insulin that is being produced [7]. Diabetes mellitus occurs when insulin is not secreted by the pancreas in sufficient amounts or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced [4]. Diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic condition which has several complications including diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, coronary heart disease and hypertension. These complications may be delayed, lessened or prevented by maintaining blood glucose level close to normal. Long standing diabetes has been documented to cause structural and functional cardiac impairment, which
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