ABSTRACT
Aim: The current study investigated the hypoglycemic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects of the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Anarcardium occidentale in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Study Design: In vivo experiment. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, between Oct 2011 and Jan 2012. Methodology: Diabetes was induced in albino rats by the administration of alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w.) intraperitoneally. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. occidentale (200 mg/kg b.w.) were administered by oral gavage once a day for a period of 21 days. The effect of the extracts on blood glucose, lipids, total protein, liver marker enzymes and also on enzymatic antioxidants of defence systems such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), enzyme activities, in liver and pancreas were studied. Results: Both aqeous and ethanolic extracts of A. occidentale reduced the blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) levels, total protein and activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in alloxan-diabetic rats. The extracts also significantly mitigated the increase in malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level, and increased SOD and CAT activities in both liver and pancreas. The levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly increased in A. occidentale treated diabetic rats in comparison with control group. Our findings suggest that both extracts of A. occidentale prevented the alloxan-induced hyperglycemia and increased MDA levels. These effects could be attributed to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals present in these extracts. Conclusion: These results suggest that A. occidentale extracts possess hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties.