Abstract
<p><em>Hibiscus noldea</em> leaves-stems aqueous extract is used in Cameroonian traditional medecine to manage diabetes. To investigate the preventive effect of <em>Hibiscus noldea</em> aqueous extract on dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance, the animals received one of the following treatments: distilled water (10 mL/kg), metformine (200 mg/kg), or <em>H. noldea</em> (100 or 200 mg/kg) concomitantly with dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg, ip) for ten days. Body weight was evaluated daily and blood glucose levels were measured. At the end of experiment, insulin sensitivity test was performed and lipid profile, transaminases Aspartate amino transferase, Alanin amino transferase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione were evaluated. Histological analysis of the liver was investigated to estimate glycogen content using Periodic Acid Schiff coloration and histomorphometry of pancreatic islets area was performed.</p><p>The administration of dexamethasone during ten days induced body weight loss, hyperglycaemia, insulinresistance, an imbalance in lipid profile, an increase in transaminases and oxidative stress. Dexamethasone treatment also induced an increase in the pancreatic islets area and depletion in the levels of hepatic glycogen. Concomitant administration of dexamethasone and the aqueous plant extract prevented the rise in blood glucose levels, reduced insulinresistance, improved lipid profile and oxidative status. The aqueous extract of <em>H. noldea</em> prevented the use of glycogen storage and the increase in pancreatic islet area in dose dependent manner.</p><p>Conclusion: The stem leaves aqueous extract from <em>Hibiscus noldea</em> have the ability to reduce insulinresistance via its antihyperglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities. These results justify the use of this extract in the management of diabetic state.</p>
Highlights
Insulin resistance is a pathology characterized by hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycaemia or both which can be associated with visceral obesity, dislipidemia and high blood pressure
Considering that insulin resistance is one of the factors involved in the diabetes physiopathology, the reduction of insulin resistance could contribute to the management of diabetes
The fresh stem leaves of H. noldeae were harvested at ODJA (Centre Region of Cameroon) in May 2015 and authentication was done by comparing the sample No 9977 of the National Herbarium of Cameroon
Summary
Insulin resistance is a pathology characterized by hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycaemia or both which can be associated with visceral obesity, dislipidemia and high blood pressure. Many factors can induce insulin resistance among which glucocorticoïds as dexamethasone. It is well known that, excess glucocorticoid induces insulin resistance which is related to the developpement of type 2 diabetes [2,3]. High doses of dexamethasone have shown to DOI:10.5138/09750185.2036 induce ß cell proliferation in pancreatic islets [4] contributing to hyperinsulinemia. Severals works have been done in the management of diabetes mellitus using medicinal plants, researches still going on around the world to, find new drugs with minor adverse effects. The present study aims to reveal the possible role of Hibiscus noldea extracts in the prevention of dexamethasoneinduced insulin resistance.
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