Abstract

The  hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects  of  the increasing  dosages of  Allium cepaaqueous  extracts  on  alloxan - induced diabetic  Rattus  novergicus  for possible use in the management  of  diabetes mellitus was investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced in 54 out of a total of 63 adult R. novergicus using 150 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate.  Increasing dosages (200, 250 and 300 mg/kg) of A. cepa aqueous extracts were given to the diabetic rats for six weeks while the control rats got either normal saline (1 ml) or increasing dosages of glibenclamide (2.5, 3.8 and 5.0 mg/kg) during the same period. Blood glucose level, total serum lipids and total serum cholesterol were assessed with routine methods.  F-LSD was employed to test significant differences (P < 0.05) among treatment means. Increasing dosages of A. cepa aqueous  extracts produced  a dose-dependent significant (P < 0.05)  reductions  in the blood glucose levels, total  serum lipid  and  total  serum  cholesterol when  compared with that of  the control  rats. The  most  effective percentage reduction in  blood  glucose level,  total  serum  lipids  and cholesterol  were  observed at 300 mg/kg. From the experimental findings, it is possible to conclude that A. cepa studied exhibited promising hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. It’s hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects could represent a protective mechanism against the development of hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia characteristic of diabetes mellitus.

Key words: Allium cepa, hypoglycaemia, hypolipidaemia, alloxan diabetic rats.