Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of hydroethanolic extract of the fruit of Baillonella toxisperma in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE: This work evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of pulp extracts of B. toxisperma fruits in rats. METHODS: The regulatory ability of the extract on the secretory capacity of pancreatic beta cells (oral glucose tolerance test), and digestion and/or absorption of carbohydrates (starch and sucrose) were evaluated on normal Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by intravenous administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg), and the animals were treated by the administration of a single daily dose of 400 mg/kg BW of extract. The effect of the extract on blood glucose levels of diabetic rats was monitored 30 min, 2 h, and 5 h after administration, and on the 7th and 14th days of treatment. After 2 weeks of treatment, the rats were sacrificed, liver was preserved for the determination of glycogen content. The serum was prepared and markers for nephro and hepatotoxicity were assessed, as well as cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: The hydroethanolic extract of B. toxisperma fruits significantly reduced glucose concentrations after administration of starch and sucrose in normoglycemic rats by limiting the glycemic peak (increasing of 19.67% vs 27.88% for positive control and 35.96% vs 43.97% for positive control, for starch and sucrose respectively). No effect was observed after glucose administration. B. toxisperma fruits significantly decreased glucose levels by 14.5% and 54.23% respectively 30 min after administration and 7th days of treatment respectively. The extract decreased plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in diabetic rats; it also decreased the cardiovascular risk through the reduction of Cardiac Risk Ratio, Atherogenic Coefficient, and non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. The extract also promoted renal function but not structural integrity of the liver. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the hydroethanolic pulp extracts of B. toxisperma fruits are good antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties agents and could be a potential source of compounds for diabetes management.