Antidiabetic potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Plants are known to possess relatively high efficacy in the treatment of several chronic diseases with fewer adverse effects. In the recent years, numerous medicinal plants have been reported to be effective in treating diabetes. Hence, the present study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic property of hydroalcoholic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) calyces in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg, b.w), in male Wistar rats. Diabetic rats were administered daily oral doses of HS (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) and Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) for 21 days. Then, blood glucose levels, oral glucose tolerance test and lipid profiles were determined. Treatment with HS resulted in a significant dose dependent reduction of blood glucose levels accompanied by a significant improvement in body weight. The extract also enhanced the glucose tolerance and significantly decreased cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins levels while the high-density lipoproteins level significantly increased. From the results obtained, it can therefore be concluded that Hibiscus sabdariffa has an antidiabetic effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Boswellia dalzielii and Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

“…The toxicity investigations of these plants indicated that they are safe at a level of 2000 mg/kg after oral administration [ 17 , 26 ]. Our previous studies demonstrated that the hydroethanolic extracts of B. dalzielii and H. sabdariffa possessed hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties in alloxan-induced diabetic rats [ 13 , 14 ], notably through reducing blood glucose, improving glucose tolerance, and normalizing lipid profiles. These plants and their phytochemical compounds might act by several mechanisms, such as enhancing insulin secretion by stimulating the β-cell of the Langerhans islets or regenerating the insulin-producing pancreatic β-cell population in the islets of Langerhans [ 27 ].…”

“…B. dalzielii and H. sabdariffa extracts were prepared using the methods previously reported [ 13 , 14 ]. In brief, powders of B. dalzielii stem bark or H. sabdariffa calyces were soaked in a mixture solution (70:30) of ethanol/distilled water for 24 h with periodic shaking and stirring.…”

“…After 3 days, the fasting blood glucose levels in the rats were assessed to validate the successful induction of diabetes mellitus using a glucometer (Accu-Chek Aviva, Roche, Mannheim, Germany) and compatible blood glucose test strips by collecting blood from the tail vein. Only rats with fasting blood glucose levels greater than 250 mg/dl were considered diabetic and randomly assigned to different groups [ 14 ].…”

“…Recently, Boswellia dalzielii ( B. dalzielii ) and Hibiscus sabdariffa ( H. sabdariffa ), two medicinal plants widely used in the Cameroonian pharmacopeia for the treatment of various diseases, were shown to reduce fasting blood glucose level, improve glucose tolerance and normalize lipid profiles in alloxan-induced diabetic rats [ 13 , 14 ]. B. dalzielii has been widely reported as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-convulsant, and against gastrointestinal disorders [ [15] , [16] , [17] ], whereas H. sabdariffa has been shown to be anti-hypertensive, hepatoprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-diabetic properties [ 18 , 19 ].…”

“…Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities have been proven in bioactive compounds in medicinal plants used to treat diabetes [ 20 ]. Previous studies revealed the presence of triterpenes, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and saponins in various parts of B. dalzielii [ 13 , 21 ], while triterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, organic acids, vitamins, and tannins are the major compounds found in the calyces of H. sabdariffa [ 14 , 18 ].…”