Antilipidemic Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Aloe barbadensis Gel, Cymbopogon citratus Leaves and Its Combination on Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats
Offor, V. O. *
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Ufele, A. N.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Ononye, B. U.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Azaka, E. I.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Ishar, C. O.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Okafor, P. K.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Afoemezie, P. I.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This research sought to investigate the antilipidemic effect of ethanolic extract of Aloe barbadensis, Cymbopogon citratus leaves and its equal combination on induced-alloxan diabetic rat. Plants like Aloe barbadensis and Cymbopogon citratus are commonly used as home remedies for some diseases such as diabetes thereby making them alternative medicines. Ethanolic extract of both plants was extracted using 70% ethanol. The effect of glibenclamide, ethanolic extract of A. barbadensis gel, C. citratus leaves and its combination after 21 days experimental study showed a significantly increased (P<0.05) high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the induced rats when in comparison with the normal control and diabetic untreated rats. The low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly showed a (P<0.05) decrease in the rats treated with A. barbadensis gel, C. citratus leaves and its combined extract compared with those treated with standard drug. The serum total cholesterol (TCHOL), triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) significantly showed a (P<0.05) decrease in the rats treated with A. barbadensis gel, C. citratus leaves and its combined extract compared with diabetic untreated rats. This research revealed that ethanolic extract of A. barbadensis, C. citratus and its combination has antilipidemic effects and holds potential as an alternative therapy for its management.
Keywords: Aloe barbadensis, Cymbopogon citratus, hyperlipidemia, Albino rats, Alloxan