ABSTRACT
Introduction. Several plant preparations like a mixture of aqueous extracts of Spilanthes africana; Portulaca oleracea; and Sida rhombifolia are currently utilized in Foumban (West Cameroon) to manage diabetes. The aim of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic property of the aqueous mixture of three plant extracts (1 : 1 : 1) on streptozotocin induced diabetes rats. Methods. Diabetes was induced to rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. The diabetic rats received different dosages of the mixture of extracts for 21 days and glibenclamide 6.5 mg/kg b.w. as positive control. Results. The results showed that the mixture of extracts significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the level of the glycaemia, the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol as well as MDA, AST, ALT, and creatinine levels. It also increased significantly the concentration of HDL-cholesterol, glutathione, and TAOS. A great reduction of the atherogenic indexes CT/HDL and LDL/HDL of the treated groups was observed. Each extract and the mixture demonstrated significant scavenging property on DPPH and OH radicals and present a good antioxidant property. Conclusion. The mixture of plant extracts has hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic properties and can be used for the management of diabetes mellitus.
ABSTRACT
Background The present study focused on the antioxidant, phenolic profile and free radical scavenging-mediated protective effect of leaves extracts of Syzygium guineense var. macrocarpum against ferric nitriloacetate-induced stress in the liver, heart, kidney and brain tissues of Wistar rats homogenates. Methods Spectrophotometric standardized methods were used to determine the free radical scavenging potential, antioxidant and protective properties of plant extracts on rat homogenates. Results All the extracts showed a concentration-dependent free radical quenching potential, and the ability to protect all the tested organs by inhibiting the lipid peroxidation and potentiating or restoring the activity of enzymatic and non enzymatic markers. The polyphenolic profile revealed the presence of at least one simple phenolic acid (gallic, caffeic, para-coumaric acid) although the majority (6 out of 14) of the compounds used as standard are present in the aqueous and aqueous-ethanol extracts. Conclusions Ethanolic extract of leaves of S. guineense var macrocarpum (SGETOH) exhibited the highest phenol content and appeared as the best extract taking into consideration the antioxidant and organo-protective activities tested.
