ANTIDIABETIC, ANTIHYPERLIPIDAEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF WATTAKAKA VOLUBILIS (L. F) STAPF LEAVES IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The ethanol extract of Wattakaka volubilis (L. f) Stapf. (Family: Asclepiadaceae) leaf was investigated for its antidiabetic effect in Wistar Albino rats. Diabetes was induced in Albino rats by administration of alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg, i.p). The ethanol extract of Wattakaka volubilis at a dose of 150mg/kg of body weight was administered at single dose per day to diabetes induced rats for a period of 14 days. The effect of ethanol extract of Wattakaka volubilis leaf extract on blood glucose, plasma insulin, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum lipid profile [total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (VLDL-C), and high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C) serum protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, serum enzymes [Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminases (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], lipoprotein peroxidation (LPO) antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) ,glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in the diabetic rats. The ethanol extract of Wattakaka volubilis leaf elicited significant reductions of blood glucose (p<0.01), lipid parameters except HDL-C, serum enzymes and significantly increased HDL-C and antioxidant enzymes. The extracts also caused significant increase in plasma insulin (p<0.01) in the diabetic rats. From the above results it is concluded that ethanol extract of Wattakaka volubilis possesses significant antidiabetic, antihyperlipidaemic and antioxidant effects in alloxan induced diabetic rats.