Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Coccinia cordifolia leaf and root powder on alloxan induced type 2 diabetic Long-Evans rats. Oral feeding of the C. cordifolia leaf and root powder slightly decreased serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and LDL-cholesterol as compared with leaf, root and standard drug. C. cordifolia leaf showed more significant (p < 0.05, 0.01 and 0.001) effect on blood glucose level when compared with root and standard drug (glibenclamide, 5 mg/kg). At the mean time, rats’ serum insulin level markedly increased; leaf does showed more significant (p < 0.05, 0.01 and 0.001) effect than glibenclamide control group and root powder feeding group. But C. cordifolia did not show any significant effect on HDL-cholesterol and liver glycogen after 21^st day feeding. Thus, the results of the experimental study suggest that C. cordifolia possesses hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and is able to ameliorate the diabetic state and can be served as a source of potent antidiabetic agent. In this comparative study, it was shown that leaf was better than root in the effects of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic status.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Coccinia cordifolia, alloxan, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, LDL-cholesterol and glibenclamide.