TY - JOUR AU - IBRAHIM, Rasheed Bolaji AU - AKOLADE, Jubril Olayinka AU - ALADODO, Raliat Abimbola AU - OKEREKE, Omoaruemike Ebele AU - AKANDE, Sarah Abimbola PY - 2016/12/16 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Glucose and Lipid Lowering Potentials of Heliotropium indicum L. Leaves in Alloxan-Induced Hyperglycaemic Rats JF - Notulae Scientia Biologicae JA - Not Sci Biol VL - 8 IS - 4 SE - Research articles DO - 10.15835/nsb849850 UR - https://notulaebiologicae.ro/index.php/nsb/article/view/9850 SP - 414-421 AB - <p style="text-align: justify;">The antidiabetic potentials of <em>Heliotropium indicum </em>L. leaf aqueous (HILA) extract used for the management of diabetes by Traditional Medicinal Practitioners (TMPs) in Nigeria was assessed. Alloxan (ALX)-induced hyperglycaemic rats were orally administered with known folkloric dosage of 30 and 75 mg/kg b. wt. of HILA extract, once a day, for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were monitored and pancreatic histology was examined. Net hepatic glycogen (GLY) concentration and lipid profiles were also determined. Prior to treatment, ALX-induced hyperglycaemia (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">&gt;</span>250 mg/dL) was established in rats. Oral administration of 30 and 75 mg/kg b. wt. HILA extract to diabetic rats for 14 days caused significant reduction in FBG to baseline values observed in non-diabetic conditions. Treatment with HILA extract also showed improvement in lipid abnormalities observed in hyperglycaemic condition, levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly reduced and HDL-cholesterol increased resulting in improved artherogenic index. Hepatic GLY concentration was significantly increased in diabetic rat treated with the extract. Histological examinations showed degenerated and sparse pancreatic islets β-cells in non-treated diabetic rat, whereas microscopy of treated rats showed mild to normal architecture with enriched β-cells. Preliminary phytochemical profiling of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids (2.54 mg/g), saponins (0.28 mg/g), phenols (0.04 mg/g) and anthraquinones (0.01 mg/g). Results from this study revealed that the aqueous leaf extract of <em>H. indicum </em>possesses not only antihyperglycaemic, but also antidyslipidemic activities, that may prove to be of clinical importance in the management of diabetes and associated secondary complications.</p> ER -