Antidiabetic and Hypolipidaemic Effects of Garden Egg (Solanum aethiopicum) Leaf Extract in Beta-cells of Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Aim: Diabetes and cardiovascular disorders have continued to pose serious threats to humans. Hence researches have been ongoing on discovery of more antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic plants. Therefore, this study evaluated the antidiabetic, hypolipidaemic and histopathological profiles of garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum) leaf extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic male Wistar rats.

Procedure: In the present study, 80% methanol extract of Solanum aethiopicum leaf extract was tested on streptozotocin induced diabetic male Wistar rats. The experimental rats were randomly grouped into 2 control groups namely distilled water and glibenclamide. The distilled water group served as the negative control group while the glibenclamide group served as the positive control group. The other 3 experimental groups were given different doses of Solanum aethiopicum leaf extracts namely 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight respectively. Diabetes was then induced through a single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin which is a known beta cytotoxin. Blood glucose test strips with AccuCheck Advantage II glucometer were used to monitor the blood glucose levels at 1, 3, 6, and 24 h on the first day and 1 h after treatment on Day 7, 14 and 21. Samples of blood were then collected and passed through centrifugation process to obtain serum used for the determination of the hepatic, renal, lipid parameters. In addition, the diabetic Wistar rats’ pancreas extract was used for determination of histopathological changes after extract treatment.

Results: Solanum aethiopicum leaf extract daily oral administration across all dosages (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) resulted in significant reduction of level of blood glucose (P≤0.05) as well as improving liver and kidney activities including hyperlipidaemia associated with diabetes. The extract also had a beneficial effect on the histopathological changes of the pancreas in streptozotocin induced diabetes.

Conclusions: Solanum aethiopicum leaf extracts possess antidiabetic activities and also show beneficial health effects on the hepatic and renal profile as well as total lipids levels. Solanum aethiopicum leaf extracts also have favourable effects to inhibit the histopathological changes of the pancreas in streptozotocin induced diabetes.