Streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats: effects of White Butterfly (Clerodendrum volubile) leaves on blood glucose levels, lipid profile and antioxidant status.

White Butterfly (Clerodendrum volubile) leaf is commonly used in traditional medicine for the management of various diseases including diabetes without the full understanding of the scientific basis for its use. This study sought to evaluate the antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effect of C. volubile leaves in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Aqueous extract of C. volubile was prepared and its effect assessed on relevant enzymes associated with diabetes. Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly separated into 10 groups each containing five rats. The induction of diabetes in rats was by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg body weight) while C. volubile extract was administered orally to diabetic and non-diabetic animals, at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. Metformin (100 mg/kg body weight) served as positive control. Clerodendrum volubile extract inhibited α-glucosidase (IC50  = 0.20 mg/ml) and α-amylase (IC50  = 0.58 mg/ml). Furthermore, administration of C. volubile extract significantly reduced the elevated plasma glucose level and body weight, improved kidney functions, attenuated oxidative stress by decreasing MDA levels, enhancing superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, reinstated the lipid profile to nearly normal level and restored pancreatic histological integrity in diabetic rats. The results reveal that C. volubile represents a source of phytochemicals that exerts their antidiabetic effects through the modulation of glycemic and atherogenic indices as well as mitigation of free-radical-mediated damage.