Research article

Anacardium Occidentale leaves extract Regulate Cholesterol and Demonstrate Anti-diabetics effect on Wistar Rats (Rattus Novergicus)

¹Shafe MO, ¹Omolaso BO, ¹Igbokwe VU, ¹Sopuru M, *²Dare BJ and ¹Olaniyan OT

¹Department of Physiology, Bingham University, College of Health Sciences, Karu, Nigeria

²Department of Anatomy, Bingham University, College of Health Sciences, Karu, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail: jdare_tolu@yahoo.com

Accepted 23 July 2014

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder, characterized by hyperglycemia that results from an absolute or relative insulin deficiency and is associated with long-term complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, heart and nerves. This research work investigates the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Ancardium Occidentale leave extract on alloxan induced Diabetic Wistar Rats. Rats were made diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg body weight of alloxan monohydride. Rats of both sexes were divided into 5 groups (n=5). Group 1 (control), group 2 (treated with glibenclamide 5 mg/kg; orally), group 3-low dose (treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of the extract; orally), group 4-high dose (treated with 300 mg/kg body weight of the extract; orally) and group 5 (diabetes untreated). The administration was done once daily orogastrically, during which blood glucose level was monitored at 3 days interval for a period of 2 weeks with the aid of Glucometer. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last administration by cervical dislocation. Blood sample was collected from the eye for estimation of lipid profile. Induction of alloxan resulted in significant increase in glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein levels in the rats. The administered extract decreased the concentration of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and triglyceride to an extent and increased the concentration of high density lipoprotein. This result suggests the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect of the extract of A. occidentale in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and supports the traditional herbal drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Anacardium Occidentale, Antioxidant, Alloxan, Diabetes, Lipid profile