Idiongo Okon Umoh and Felix Nnaemeka Ugwu
Development of new therapies capable of improving glycaemia and abnormal lipid profiles in diabetes management without side effects, reduction in efficiency and toxicity has been of great scientific interest. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic potentials of Persea americana ethanolic extract. Phytochemical analysis was done using standard methods and extract screened for bioactive ingredients 250 and 500 mg/kg of P. americana ethanolic extract were administered to alloxan-induced diabetic rats orally twice daily for 3 weeks, glycemic levels were checked every 3 days and serum lipid profile assay was carried out at the end of the treatment period. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed presence of various concentrations of phytochemicals, both doses of the extract significantly reduced blood glucose levels in the diabetic treatment groups when compared to the diabetic control group. High dose diabetic treatment group (500 mg/kg) showed significant decreases in total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins compared with the lipid profile levels of the diabetic control accompanied by a marginal increase in HDL-C. P. americana extract produced desirable effects on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia associated with type I diabetes mellitus.
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