Anti-diabetic, lipid lowering and antioxidant potential of Girardinia heterophylla in high fat diet and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

The present study was aimed to investigate the possible antidiabetic, Lipid lowering and antioxidant potential of three different extracts of Girardinia heterophylla roots on high fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD + STZ 55 mg/kg) induced diabetes in albino rats. Different extracts of Girardinia heterophylla roots (200 mg/kg b.w) were administered to diabetic rats for about 60 days. The effect of extracts on blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum lipid profile like total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and antioxidant parameters like Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in control and test groups. Among the three extracts, the ethanolic extract of Girardinia heterophylla elicited significant (p < 0.05) reduction of raised blood glucose levels, lipid profiles (except HDL) and significant elevation of antioxidant levels when compared to HFD + STZ induced diabetic rats. From the results of the present study, ethanol extract of Girardinia heterophylla offers promising antidiabetic, lipid lowering and antioxidant potential that may be mainly attributed to its potent antioxidant properties.