Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Indices of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Nephrolepis Undulata in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats (original) (raw)

The global incidence of diabetes mellitus continues to present enormous social, economic and health burden. This study was carried out to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic property of ethanolic leaf extract of Nephrolepis undulata on alloxan induced diabetes in Wistar rats. Fifty nine adult Wistar rats weighing between 120-150g were used. Twenty four rats were used for toxicity of the plant, which was showed to have an (LD 50)above 3200mg/kg. And thirty five rats were allotted randomly into 7 groups with 5 rats each(n=5). Groups 1 and 2 severed as the untreated non-diabetic and untreated diabetic controls respectively. Diabetes was induced using40mg/kg single dose injection of alloxan monohydrate and the treatment groups are metformin, insulin and Nephrolepis undulata. Weekly Body weight and fasting blood glucose level was checked and increase in body weight was observed in groups treated with metformin, insulin and varying doses of Nephrolepis undulata. At the end of the treatment period, laboratory analyses was done and data generated was subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA and p values < 0.05 was considered significant. Result showed a decrease in serum fasting blood glucose levels, a decrease in TG, LDL and cholesterol levels, with an increase in HDL level across the treatment groups. The result trend observed in this study confirms Nephrolepis undulataas a plant with anti-diabetic potentials.