title: Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Bersama engleriana leaves in nicotinamide/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of the aqueous and methanolic extracts from Bersama engleriana leaves in streptozotocin/nicotinamide (STZ-NA)-induced type 2 diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were orally treated for 4 consecutive weeks with Bersama engleriana extracts at doses of 300 or 600 mg/kg. The anti-diabetic effect was examined by measuring blood glucose (BG) at 0, 1, 14 and 28 days after STZ-NA treatment and, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) levels at sacrifice (day 29). Glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg) was used for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  STZ-NA-induced diabetic rats showed moderate to significant increases in the levels of BG, TG, TC, LDL-C while body weight, HDL-C levels and relative weights of liver and pancreas were decreased compared to controls (non diabetic rats). Administration of the plant extracts to STZ-NA diabetic rats resulted in a significant decrease in BG, TG, TC and LDL-C and the dose 600 mg/kg of the methanolic extract was the most effective; HDL-C level was markedly increased after four weeks compared to untreated diabetic rats. A dose-dependent increase in the relative weights of the diabetogenic organs was observed in the Bersama engleriana groups. It can be also noticed that the methanolic extract, especially the dose 600 mg/kg (p<0.001), produced more effects than glibenclamide and aqueous extract. Rats treated with glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg) generally gave lower results compared to groups treated with plant extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the present study showed that Bersama engleriana extracts and especially its methanolic extract possess antidiabetogenic properties and beneficial effects on diabetic hyperlipidemia. All these effects could be due to the bioactive components revealed in the Bersama engleriana extracts such as triterpenes and phenols and which could justify its ethnomedical use.
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Animal Biology,Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon. pwatcho@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Watcho
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.forename: Achountsa Jeugo Hugues
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gildas
authors.forename: Mbiakop Carlos
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Wankeu-Nya
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Modeste
authors.forename: Nguelefack Télesphore
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Benoît
authors.forename: Kamanyi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009536:Niacinamide; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009536:Niacinamide; D013311:Streptozocin