Comparison between ethanolic and aqueous extracts from Chinese juniper berries for hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
Hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic properties of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively, from Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis L.) berries were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.


METHODS
After oral administration of each extract singly or repeatedly to alloxan-induced diabetic rats, the blood glucose, glutamate-pyruvate transferase (GPT), glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were assayed.


RESULTS
The blood glucose levels after a single oral administration of the ethanolic extract significantly reduced in a time-dependent manner, which is much faster and more than that of glibenclamide. The blood glucose levels of alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with the ethanolic extract were reduced to 94, 81%, 66%, 45% and 40% at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9h, respectively (p<0.05), while the aqueous extract had no effect at all. Repeated oral administration of the ethanolic extract also effectively reduced the GPT value to 58% of the diabetic rats, but slightly reduced the GOT value to 87% of the diabetic rats (p<0.05). On the other hand, the repeated oral administration of aqueous extract effectively reduced the GOT value to 43% of the diabetic rats, without affecting the GPT level. Effects of both extracts on the TC and TG levels were different. There was no significant difference in the TC and TG levels between diabetic control and diabetic groups when repeatedly administered orally with ethanolic extract. On the other hand, the aqueous extract brought down the TC value to 57% and the TG value to 37% of the diabetic control rats (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that the ethanolic extract of Chinese juniper berries possesses a potential hypoglycaemic effect while the aqueous extract has a potential hypolipidemic effect.
Ju
Jung Bong
JB
Department of Biology and Medicinal Science, Pai Chai University, Daejeon 302-735, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Ji Su
JS
Choi
Chang Won
CW
Lee
Hae Kyung
HK
Oh
Tae-Kyun
TK
Kim
Sei Chang
SC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018653:Juniperus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D000496:Alloxan; D002784:Cholesterol; D005905:Glyburide