Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the antidiabetic properties of aqueous leaves extract of Leonotis leonurus in streptozotocin (45 mg/kg intraperitoneal) induced diabetic rats for 15 days. The induced diabetic rats exhibited high blood glucose level, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides accompanied with weight loss while the level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) was very low. In addition, the water intake was remarkably high while feed intake was decreased as compared with normal control group. The continuous oral administration of the extract at the dose of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg for 15 days was able to lower the blood glucose level, HDL, feed and water intake while that of LDL was increased. Also, the weight loss of diabetic rats (31 g) after extract treatment was near that of glibenclamide treated groups. The extract yielded high phenolics content (48 mg/g tannic acid equivalent) and flavonoids (4.8 mg/g quercetin equivalent). These compounds have been reported to potentiate insulin secretion. The present study revealed that aqueous extract of L. leonurus possesses antihyperglycemia and antilipidemic potential and thus could support ethnotherapeutic usage of this plant.

Key words: Leonotis leonurus, lipids, blood glucose, phenolics, flavonoids.