Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Guiera senegalensis on Diabetic Albino Rats

Abstract

This study investigated the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and body weight effects of G. senegalensis aqueous leaf extract in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic albino rats. Fifty rats were divided into six groups: a normal control, diabetic untreated (negative control), diabetic treated with a standard anti-diabetic drug (positive control), and diabetic groups receiving low (200 mg/kg), medium (400 mg/kg), and high (600 mg/kg) doses of the G. senegalensis extract. Treatments were administered orally for 28 days. Blood glucose levels, and body weight were measured weekly while the lipid profile was measured after 28days of treatment. Results indicated that G. senegalensis extract significantly lowered p > 0.05 the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats, particularly at higher doses. The lipid profile analysis showed a dose-dependent reduction in total cholesterol (TCHOL) and stabilization of triglycerides (TRTG), with an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in treated groups compared to the diabetic control. Additionally, diabetic rats treated with the extract exhibited gradual body weight gain, with the high-dose group showing the greatest improvement, contrasting with weight loss observed in untreated diabetic rats. These effects suggest that G. senegalensis may support lipid and glucose homeostasis and improve overall metabolic health in diabetic conditions, its efficacy may be attributed to bio-active compounds with antioxidant and insulin-sensitizing properties, highlighting G. senegalensis as a potential complementary therapy for diabetes management.