HYPOGLYCEMIC AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF CANSCORA PERFOIATA LAM. (GENTIANACEAE) WHOLE PLANT IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: To evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of ethanol extract of Canscora perfoliata whole plant in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in Albino rats by administration of alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg i.p). The ethanol extracts of Canscora perfoliata whole plant at a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg of body weight were administrated at a single dose per day to diabetes induced rats for a period of 14 days. The effect of ethanol extract of C. perfoliata whole plant extract on blood glucose, plasma insulin, urea, creatinine, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), high density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) and phospholipid (PL), serum protein, albumin, globulin, serum enzymes [serum glutamate pyruvate transaminases] (SGPT), and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] were measured in the diabetic rats. Results: In the acute toxicity study, ethanol extract of Canscora perfoliata whole plant was non-toxic at 2000 mg/kg in rats. The increased body weight, decreased blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and other biochemical parameters level was observed in diabetic rats treated with both doses of ethanol extract of Canscora perfoliata whole plant compared to diabetic control rats. In diabetic rats, ethanol extract of Canscora perfoliata whole plant administration, altered lipid profiles were reversed to near normal than diabetic control rats.