ABSTRACT
The ethanol extract of Polygala rosmarinifolia whole plant (Family: Polygalaceae) was investigated for its antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidaemic effect in Wistar Albino rats. Diabetes was induced in Albino rats by administration of alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg, i.p). The ethanol extracts of Polygala rosmarinifolia at a dose of 100 and 200mg/kg of body weight were administered at single dose per day to diabetes induced rats for a period of 14 days. The effect of ethanol extract of Polygala rosmarinifolia whole plant extract on blood glucose, serum insulin, urea, creatinine, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein–cholester (VLDL-C), high density lipoprotein – cholesterol (HDL-C) and phospholipid (PL)] serum protein, albumin, globulin, serum enzymes [serum glutamate pyruvate transaminases (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], were measured in the diabetic rats. The ethanol extract of Polygala rosmarinifolia whole plant elicited significant reductions of blood glucose (P<0.05), lipid parameters except HDL-C, serum enzymes and significantly increased HDL-C. The extracts also caused significant increase in serum insulin (P<0.05) in the diabetic rats. From the above results, it is concluded that ethanol extract of Polygala rosmarinifolia possesses significant antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidaemic effects in alloxan induced diabetic rats.