Effect of Methanolic Extract of Corchorus olitorius Leaves on Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidaemic Activities in Albino Rats

Abstract

Aim: This study sought to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic effect of methanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaves in Albino rats.
 Methods: Fresh plants of C. olitorius were harvested from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan. The leaves were dried and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. The methanol was evaporated in a rotary evaporator at 35°C with a yield of 2.17 g which represents a percentage yield of 8.68%. Ten adult male albino rats with body weight between 100 and 120 g were used for this study. They were randomly divided into two groups of five rats each. Animals in group 1 were administered saline solution while those in group 2 were administered C. olitorius extract. The animals were exposed to the extract and saline solution at a dose of 3 mL per 100 g body weight 12 hourly via oral route of administration. After fourteen days of administration, the animals were fasted overnight and anaesthetized using diethyl ether. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Fasting blood sugar and lipid profile were determined using standard methods.
 Results: C. olitorius leaves was observed to significantly lower fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride but increased HDL-cholesterol and HDL/LDL-cholesterol ratio significantly when compared to those of the control group at p<0.05.
 Conclusion: The result of this study implies that C. olitorius leaves are of significant health importance as far as hyperglucosemia and hyperlipidaemia is concerned. It could also be exceedingly helpful in the control of obesity and hypertension. This pharmacological study is a useful tool for further drug development from the natural plant products.

Effect of Methanolic Extract of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves on Glycemic and Lipidaemic Indexes of Wistar Rats

“…5) at p<0.05. This contradicts the findings of Airaodion et al [24] who reported a significant increase in the HDL-cholesterol concentration when animals were treated with methanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaves for 14 days. HDL-cholesterol is usually referred to as the 'good cholesterol' [26].…”

“…The fasting blood sugar lowering effect of V. amygdalina leaves could also indicate that it possesses antidiabetic agents which could control hyperglycaemia. This is consistent with earlier reports that green leafy vegetables possess antidiabetic properties [24,35,36]. One therapeutic approach for treating early stage of diabetes is to decrease post-prandial hyperglycaemia.…”

“…6). This result is in agreement the findings of Airaodion et al [25] who reported a nonsignificant difference in the LDL-cholesterol concentration when animals were treated with African locust bean for 14 days but contradicts that of Airaodion et al [24] who reported a significant decrease in the LDL-cholesterol concentration when animals were treated with methanolic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaves for 14 days.…”

“…This is in agreement with the study of Airaodion et al [25] on the effect of oral intake of African locust bean on fasting blood sugar and lipid profile of albino rats. Several studies has shown that a number of other plants and extracts have an antihyperglycemic and an insulin-stimulatory effect [24,31,32,33]. Most of these plants have been reported to be rich in phytochemicals and contain metabolites such as glycosides, alkaloid and flavonoids [29,30,34].…”

“…They were air dried at room temperature in an open laboratory space for 14 days and milled into powder using an electronic blender. The extraction was done using soxhlet extractor and methanol as the solvent according to the method described by Airaodion et al [24]. About 25 g of the powder was packed into the thimble of the soxhlet extractor and 250 mL of methanol was added to a round bottom flask, which was attached to the soxhlet extractor and condenser on a heating mantle.…”