Antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic effects of Nymphaea stellata in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate Nymphaea stellata (N. stellata) flower extract for antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic effects in diabetic rats induced by alloxan. Its effect was compared with that of glibenclamide, a reference antidiabetic drug.

METHODS: Diabetic animals were randomly divided into five groups and treated orally with different doses (200, 300 and 400 mg/kg body weight) of flower extract once a day for 30 days. The body weight of each animal was determined, to assess any possible weight gain or loss in experimental animals compared with control groups. On the 31st day, those administered 300 mg/kg of N. stellata flower showed more promising results with regard to fasting blood glucose (FBG), plasma insulin levels, haemoglobin counts, urine sugar levels, food intake, water intake, urea and protein when compared to those treated with other doses. Therefore, 300 mg/kg dose was used for further biochemical studies. Total lipids (TL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids, free fatty acids (FFA), low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), atherogenic index (AI) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) levels, on normal and diabetic rats treated with the dose of 300 mg/kg, were evaluated.

RESULTS: The flower extract shows a significant (p-value is less than 0.001) reduction in levels of FBG, water intake, food intake, urine sugar, blood urea, TL, TC, TG, FFA, phospholipids, LDL, VLDL and AI. It also shows a significant increase in body weight, plasma insulin, protein, haemoglobin and HDL levels.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that N. stellata flower extract exhibit antihyperglycaemic as well as antihyperlipidaemic effects on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.