EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM ETHER AND N-HEXANE EXTRACTS OF Globemetula braunii ON GLUCOSE, LIPIDS AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Globimetula braunii is a parasitic plant (mistletoe) used to treat diabetes and hypertension by Nupe speaking people of Niger Sate, Nigeria. Extracts of petroleum ether and n-hexane showed presence of steroids, terpenes, and phenols. Rats of both sexes, weighing (135-244)g were randomly allotted to five groups of four rats each. Rats in group one (control) were the normoglycaemic (administered 10 ml distilled water daily), while those in groups two, three, four, and five were rendered diabetic by the administration of 100 mg/kg bodyweight of alloxan monohydrate. Group five rats were treated with 500 mg/kg bodyweight of standard drug (metformin), groups three and four rats were respectively treated with 500 mg/kg bodyweight of petroleum ether and n-hexane extracts for two weeks, while the group two rats were untreated (negative control). Blood glucose was checked after every two days using glucometer. Blood glucose concentration of rats in the extracts (n-hexane and petroleum ether) treated groups decreased significantly (217.16±4.33 - 84.33±2 .33), with n-hexane extract havi ng the highest (84.33±2.33) . The animals were anaesthesized under chloroform at the end of the treatment and blood samples were collected by jugular puncture and used for the analysis of bi ochemical parameters. Seru m cholesterol of the two extract t rea ted grou ps reduced sign i ficantl y ((162.43± l.03) and (147.93±3.40) for petroleu m ether and n -hex ane grou ps respecti vel y). There was a si mi l ar red uction i n seru m trigl yceri de levels of ex t ract grou ps , w i t h petroleum ether group ha ving the hi ghest (152.91±2 .15) acti vi t y . Tota l protei n decreased (5.57±0.03) i n n -hex ane treated grou p w hile al kal i ne ph osphatase increased i n al l the groups wi t h the standard drug treated group havi n g the h i ghest (32.2±0.35) val ue. Act i ,·it y of a l an i ne · ami notransferase i n n-hex ane treated group increased (47.7±12.4) w h i le t h at of aspanate transami nases i n groups i ncreased wi th the petroleum ether group havi ng the h i ghest acti vi ty (84.7±2.96). Urea i n all gro'ups increased, except i n the n-hexane treated grou p. Creati n i ne levels decreased i n petroleu m ether and standard drug treated groups. Na+ levels reduce i n al l groups except the standard drug treated group, K+ level s increased in petroleum ether group, er val ues increased i n all grou ps and HC03 decreased in petroleum ether and standard drug treated groups. The extracts have hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic properties, but may be hepatotoxic.