ABSTRACT

Several studies suggest that Carica papaya, a widely eaten fruit, possess hypoglycemic and

hypolipidemic properties. The present study is aimed at evaluating the hypoglycemic and

hypolipidemic properties of methanol extract of the unripe pulp of Carica papaya. We

hypothesized that if the unripe pulp displayed antihyperlipidemic properties, it could offer hope

of management of lipid abnormalities prevalent in diabetes mellitus. The study was performed

using 16 wistar rats weighing 110-150g, classified into 8 groups (2 rats per group). Rats ingroup

A (normal control) received normal feed and water ad libitum; rats in group B (Negative control)

received in addition to this, intraperitoneal injection of 120mg/kg/body weight of alloxan; rats in

treated group C (positive control) received in addition to these, oral treatmentwith6mg/65kg/day

of glibenclamide (standard drug); rats in the test groups (D-H) received in addition to normal

feed and water ad libitum and intraperitoneal injection of 120mg/kg/body weight of alloxan, oral

treatment with different doses of methanol extract of unripe Carica papaya; Group D(200

mg/kg/day); Group E(400g/kg/day); Group F(600 mg/kg/day); Group G(800 mg/kg/day); Group

H(1000 mg/kg/day). All treatments lasted for 28 successive days then concentration of body

lipids total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and

triacylglycerol (TAG)] was measured. The results obtained showed that cholesterol

concentration of diabetes-induced rats were higher than normal but administration of the extract

at dose of 1000mg/kg reversed the cholesterol increase. The extract treated groups showed a

dose-dependent significant (p<0.05) decrease in LDL concentration over the positive and

negative control groups .Across extract treatments, mean HDL increased dose-dependently for

400-1000mg/Kg groups. Administration of the extract effectively reduced the elevated TAG

noticed in alloxan-treated rats in a dose-dependent fashion similar to the standard drug with

doses 600-1000g/Kg showing lower TAG levels than that of the positive control group. These

results support the claims that unripe Carica papaya possess antihyperlipidemic properties. This

knowledge may be useful in the search for natural remedies in the management of diabetes

mellitus.