Poor lipid and glucose regulation increases the risk for the development of major cardiovascular diseases and other organ damage. The study evaluated the serum glucose and lipid lowering effects of the 70% (v/v) ethanolic leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia (ALC) using the dexamethasone-induced diabetic rat model. Thirty six female Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200g; n=6) were rendered hyperglycaemic with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg, sc) once daily for 8 days except the normal control. Each group received either normal saline 0.5 ml/rat, ALC (250 mg/kg, p.o. or 500 mg/kg, p.o.), glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, p.o.) or atorvastatin (5mg/kg, p.o.) as treatment once daily for 8 days. Fasting blood glucose (FBS) readings were recorded at baseline, day 4, 6 and 9. Blood was collected for the estimation of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) on day 9. The diabetic control group had significantly raised FBS levels (8.20 ± 1.04 mmol/l; ***p
Key words: Alchornea cordifolia, antidiabetic, antihyperglycaemic, antihyperlipidaemic, herbal medicines
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