Ironya Ogar1, Godwin Eneji Egbung2, Victor Udo Nna3, Item Justin Atangwho1, Edisua Hogan Itam1. 1. Department of Biochemistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. 2. Department of Biochemistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Electronic address: eneji6@gmail.com. 3. Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Abstract
AIMS: Chronic hyperglycaemia in diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the production of free radicals which results in oxidative stress and related disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, compromised hepatic and renal functions. Hyptis verticillata reportedly demonstrated glucose lowering activity in previous studies. The present study therefore evaluated the effect of H. verticillata on hyperglycaemia-induced dyslipidaemia, hepatorenal distortions, oxidative stress, as well as calculated indices of cardiovascular function. METHODS: Wistar rats employed for this study consisted of normoglycaemic and diabetic rats in nine experimental groups. The normoglycaemic and diabetic rats were either treated with metformin (500 mg/kg b.w.), quercetin (10 mg/kg b.w.), or ethanol extract of H. verticillata leaf (250 mg/kg b.w. and 500 mg/kg b.w.) administered orally for 28 days. KEY FINDINGS: Results revealed that H. verticillata significantly lowered blood glucose level, attenuated dyslipidaemia, decreased atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic and coronary risk indices, and increased cardioprotective index in diabetic rats. Also, H. verticillata significantly decreased serum urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and unconjugated bilirubin levels, relative to untreated diabetic rats. Further, H. verticillata increased serum superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione level, and decreased malondialdehyde level in diabetic rats in a manner similar to metformin and quercetin. Histopathological investigation of the liver and kidney revealed restored hepatocytes and amelioration of congested interstitial blood vessel of the Bowman's space of the kidneys upon intervention with H. verticillata. SIGNIFICANCE: H. verticillata in addition to its anti-hyperglycaemic activity ameliorates oxidative stress, dyslipidaemia, atherogenicity and hepatorenal lesions in DM.
AIMS: Chronic hyperglycaemia in diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the production of free radicals which results in oxidative stress and related disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, compromised hepatic and renal functions. Hyptis verticillata reportedly demonstrated glucose lowering activity in previous studies. The present study therefore evaluated the effect of H. verticillata on hyperglycaemia-induced dyslipidaemia, hepatorenal distortions, oxidative stress, as well as calculated indices of cardiovascular function. METHODS:Wistar rats employed for this study consisted of normoglycaemic and diabeticrats in nine experimental groups. The normoglycaemic and diabeticrats were either treated with metformin (500 mg/kg b.w.), quercetin (10 mg/kg b.w.), or ethanol extract of H. verticillata leaf (250 mg/kg b.w. and 500 mg/kg b.w.) administered orally for 28 days. KEY FINDINGS: Results revealed that H. verticillata significantly lowered blood glucose level, attenuated dyslipidaemia, decreased atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic and coronary risk indices, and increased cardioprotective index in diabeticrats. Also, H. verticillata significantly decreased serum urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and unconjugated bilirubin levels, relative to untreated diabeticrats. Further, H. verticillata increased serum superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione level, and decreased malondialdehyde level in diabeticrats in a manner similar to metformin and quercetin. Histopathological investigation of the liver and kidney revealed restored hepatocytes and amelioration of congested interstitial blood vessel of the Bowman's space of the kidneys upon intervention with H. verticillata. SIGNIFICANCE: H. verticillata in addition to its anti-hyperglycaemic activity ameliorates oxidative stress, dyslipidaemia, atherogenicity and hepatorenal lesions in DM.