Effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Croton zambesicus (Müll. Arg.) on lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Croton zambesicus (C. zambesicus) leaves have recently been identified as an antidiabetic agent in Africa. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of C. zambesicus leaf extract on lipid profile in experimentally induced diabetic rats. Seventy adult male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n=10): group A, control rats; group B, untreated diabetic rats; group C, diabetic rats in which C. zambesicus therapy started 2 weeks prior to induction of diabetes; group D, diabetic rats administered orally with C. zambesicus leaf extract for 2 weeks after the initial four weeks of diabetes induction; group E, diabetic rats administered orally with C. zambesicus leaf extract for 4 weeks after the initial four weeks of diabetes induction; group F, normal rats administered orally with C. zambesicus leaf extract for four weeks; and group G, diabetic rats administered with glimepiride (2 mg/kg/day) for four weeks after the initial four weeks of diabetes induction. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were weighed and sacrificed. Serum was obtained for lipid profile analysis using respective diagnostic kits. The results showed that the blood glucose level and body weights of extract and glimepiride treated groups were restored to the near normal level. The triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased significantly (P Key words: diabetes, lipid profile, Croton zambesicus, glimepiride, streptozotocin