title: Methanolic extract of African mistletoe (Viscum album) improves carbohydrate metabolism and hyperlipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To justify the use of African mistletoe (AM) Viscum album (V. album) in folkoric medicine to treat diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In one experiment, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of diabetic rats were monitored for 4 h. Diabetic rats were treated with AM at doses of 50 mg/kg (AM1) and 100 mg/kg (AM2), glibenclamide (GB) (positive control) and saline solution (SS). In another experiment, diabetic rats were treated with AM2, GB and SS daily for 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AM1 and AM2 elicited significant (P<0.05) hypoglycaemic effects within 4 h of extract administration. AM1 and AM2 decreased the FBG by 41% and 49%, respectively, at 2 h. AM2 was found to lower FBG by 51%, relative to baseline, which was comparable to GB at 3 h. In the second experiment, AM2 and GB significantly (P<0.05) decreased the FBG by 34% and 51%, respectively. This was followed by marked decrease in levels of HbA1C in AM2- and GB- treated diabetic rats. AM2 significantly (P<0.05) decreased the STZ-induced increase in levels of serum triglyceride, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, α-amylase and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Furthermore, diabetic rats treated with AM2 had significantly (P<0.05) elevated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In contrast, STZ administration produced insignificant (P<0.05) effect on the levels of serum creatinine and total bilirubin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extract of African mistletoe has anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects in STZ-diabetic rats. AM may find clinical application in the amelioration of diabetes-induced lipid disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. aoadaramoye@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Oluwatosin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adaramoye
authors.forename: Massoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amanlou
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi-Rezaei
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasalar
authors.forename: Moosavi-Movahedi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D028183:Loranthaceae; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D028182:Viscum album
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D000432:Methanol; D010936:Plant Extracts