Hydro-Ethanol Extract of <i>Persea americana</i> Fruit Pulp Ameliorates Dyslipidaemia and Cardiotoxicity Exerted by Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes-induced dyslipidaemia has been associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases. Persea americana fruit has been reported to possess anti-diabetic properties. Therefore, this study assessed the lipid profile and likely cardio-protective effects of hydroethanolic extracts of P. americana fruits in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Thirty-five male rats (150 ± 30 g) were divided into 5 groups (n = 7) and treated orally as follows; groups I-II were normal animals treated with distilled water (0.3 ml/day) and P. americana (300 mg/kg) only respectively. Animals in groups III-V were made diabetic using alloxan monohydrate (100 mg/kg i.p.) and treated orally with distilled water (0.3 ml/day), P. americana (300 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) respectively for 21 days. Fasting blood glucose level was monitored prior to, after induction of diabetes mellitus, and on day 21 post-treatment, respectively. Thereafter, retro-orbital blood samples were collected after anaesthesia and analysed for insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, apolipoproteins A1 and B, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, reduced glutathione (GSH), Vitamin C and malondialdehyde levels, respectively. VLDL, atherogenic index (AI) and ApoB/A1 ratio were estimated mathematically. Pancreatic and cardiac structures were also investigated using Haematoxylin and Eosin stains. Treatment with P. ameriacana extracts reduced (p P. americana treated diabetic group. The hydro-ethanol fruit extract of Persea americana attenuates diabetes induced dyslipidaemia and reduces the susceptibility to cardiac impairment in experimental diabetes mellitus.