title: Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Tridax procumbens (Linn.) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The whole plant of T. procumbens was collected in different regions of Madurai districts, Tamil Nadu. The air dried whole plant of T. procumbens was extracted with ethanol (95%) in a Soxhlet apparatus for 72 h. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by streptozotocin (50 mg/jk, i.p.) and nicotinamide (120 mg/kg, i.p) injection. The dry mass of the extract was used for preliminary phytochemical and pharmacological analysis. Diabetic rats were treated with glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg, p.o.) or T. procumbens extract (250 and 500 mg/k, p.o.) for 21 consecutive days. The blood samples were collected at regular intervals to access hypoglycemic effect of an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of T. procumbens. At the end of the experiment, serum lipid profile and liver enzymes levels were analyzed for all the experimental animals and compared with diabetic control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preliminary phytochemical analysis of an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of T. procumbens indicated the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. The ethanolic extract of the whole plant of T. procumbens at 250 and 500 mg/kg has significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities. The diabetic control animals exhibited a significant decrease in body weight compared with control animals. T. procumbens inhibited streptozotocin-induced weight loss and significantly alter the lipid levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ethanolic extract of the whole plant of T. procumbens showed significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Ultra College of Pharmacy, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ramesh R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Petchi
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, Bedong-Semeling Road, Bedong, 08100, Kedah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parasuraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Ultra College of Pharmacy, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vijaya
keywords: Antidiabetic; T. procumbens; antihyperlipidemic; diabetic mellitus; hyperlipidemia