Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the hypoglycemic, antidyslipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation effects of hydromethanol leaf extract of Helianthus annuus (HLEHA) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: The extract was administered once daily at 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg for 21 consecutive days. Glibenclamide (GLB) 2 mg/kg was used as a reference drug (positive control) and 5 % Tween-20 solution in water was used as negative control. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weights were measured on days 7, 14 and 21 while glycosylated haemoglobin concentration (HbA1c), serum markers of liver function, lipid profile, antioxidant status, histopathological changes in pancreas and liver were determined 24 h after the last dosing on day 21. Results: The GLB and HLEHA caused significant (p < 0.05) time-dependent weight gains in the treated rats when compared with 5 % Tween-20 treated rats. The HLEHA and GLB caused significant (p < 0.05) decreases in FBG, HbA1c, malondialdehyde, and lipid profile levels in the treated rats when compared with rats in 5% tween-20 treated group. Alloxan-induced pancreatic and hepatic degeneration were reversed in GLB- and HLEHA-treated rats. Conclusion: Helianthus annuus demonstrates potent antidiabetic, antioxidant and antidyslipidemic activities in rats. Keywords: Antidiabetic, Antidyslipidemic, Helianthus annuus , Medicinal plant, Traditional medicine
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic and endocrine disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to defective insulin secretion, insulin action or both [1]
The activation of the aforementioned processes by hyperglycemia leads to excessive release of superoxide and other reactive oxygen species from the mitochondria via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase; culminating in oxidative stress which play a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complication [3,4,5]
The serum samples were used to determine the concentrations of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic and endocrine disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to defective insulin secretion, insulin action or both [1]. The effect of a single dose of H. annuus on the fasting blood glucose level of alloxan-induced diabetic rats and in vitro antioxidant activities have been reported [9]. The effects of sub-acute treatment of H. annuus extract on fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, in vivo antioxidant activity, and its safety on alloxan-induced diabetic rat model were investigated. The rats were fasted for 16 h, after which the normal fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were determined using AccuChek active (Roche Diagnostic, Germany) followed by alloxan monohydrate administration. The serum samples were used to determine the concentrations of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities These parameters were measured spectrophotometrically, using commercial assay kits (Randox Laboratory Diagnostics, United Kingdom) according to the manufacturer’s procedures. On day 21, the FBG levels of GLB and HLEHAtreated groups (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) were within the normal FBG range (< 100 mg/dl) while the FBG level of the 5% tween-20 treated group (untreated diabetic control) was still in the diabetic range (> 126 mg/dl) (Figure 2)
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