Antihyperlipidemic Potential of Scoparia dulcis Leaf Aqueous Extract in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats
Ebele Ijeoma Azaka *
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Angela Nwogor Ufele-Obiesie
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study was to investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic potential of aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis in alloxan induced wistar albino rat. Diabetes mostly results from abnormal insulin synthesis and it negatively affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, electrolytes, and water. Scoparia dulcis is a medicinal plant that exert its antihyperlipidemic effect by reducing the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver, lowering the absorption of lipids from the intestine, and potentially increasing the breakdown of lipids in addition to its antidiabetic effect. The aqueous extract of the leaf was obtained by immersing the leaf in distilled water at 500g in 1500 litres of water for 24 hours. The acute toxicity was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, nine animals were grouped into three of three rats per group and administered 10ml of normal saline, 100 and 1000 mg/kg of aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis orally and monitored for twenty-four hours for signs of toxicity like, tremor, restlessness, dizziness and death. In the second phase, 10 groups (IV-XIII) of one rat each were given oral dose of aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis at 750, 1000. 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 2250, 2500, 3500 and 5000 mg/kg respectively and monitored for twenty-four hours for signs of toxicity. The result revealed that the administration of the extract of Scoparia dulcis orally in rats did not produce any behavioural sign of toxicity, there was no death recorded at all the doses tested up to 5000 mg /kg in the rats. The analysis of variance result of the 11 days lipid profile study revealed that the group of rats treated with the aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis revealed that there was a non-significant reduction (p>0.05) in Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low density lipoprotein (LDL) and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) when compared with the diabetic untreated group. Thus, this research revealed that the aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis has antilipidemic effects and holds potential as an alternative therapy for its management.
Keywords: Scoparia dulcis, antihyperlipidemic, aqueous, toxicity, extract, cholesterol