Effect Of Methanol Extract Of Aristolochia Albida Leaves On Lipid Profile Of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats.:- Umeh, Virginus A

ABSTRACT x> This study was designed to evaluate the effect of methanol extract of Aristolochia albida leaves on lipid profile of alloxan-induced albino rats. Aristolochia albida leaves have been claimed and used as an anti-diabetic agent by traditional healers/folk medicine practitioners. The biochemical parameters studied are serum glucose, serum triglycerol, cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). Twenty-five (25) female rats weighing 110-150g were used in this research, divided into five groups consisting of five rats each. Group one (1) and two (2) consist of normal (positive) control and negative control, while group three (3), four (4), and five (5) were diabetic treated with standard drug (glibenclamide), 50mg/kg and lOOmg/kg of extract respectively for two weeks (14 days). The alloxan-diabetic rats showed significant (p< 0.05) reduction in serum glucose, serum total cholesterol, and low density lipoproteincholesterol in the group administered lOOmg/kg of extract respectively, when compared to the negative control. However, no significant difference (P>0.05) on triacylglycerol was observed. In conclusion, these results showed that aristolochia albida leaves extract when administered orally, can reduce serum glucose level. These results further suggest the validity of the clinical use of aristolochia albida in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.