Effects of Averrhoa bilimbi leaf extract on blood glucose and lipids in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of an ethanolic extract of Averrhoa bilimbi Linn. leaves (Oxalidaceae, Common name: Bilimbi) in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. The optimal hypoglycemic dose (125 mg kg-1) was determined by performing the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in both normal and STZ- diabetic rats. To investigate the effect of repeated administration of an ethanolic extract of Averrhoa bilimbi (A Be) leaves, diabetic rats were treated with vehicle (distilled water), A Be (125 mg kg-1) or metformin (500 mg kg-1) twice a day for 2 weeks. Like metformin, A Be significantly lowered blood glucose by 50% and blood triglyceride by 130% when compared with the vehicle. A Be also significantly increased the HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 60% compared with the vehicle. A Be thus significantly increased the anti-atherogenic index and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio. However, like metformin, A Be did not affect total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, but significantly reduced the kidney lipid peroxidation level. These data show that A Be has hypoglycemic, hypotriglyceridemic, anti-lipid peroxidative and anti-atherogenic properties in STZ-diabetic rats. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.