Antihyperlipidemic activity of alcoholic leaf extract of Solanum surattense in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

ObjectiveTo study the antihyperlipidemic efficacy of alcoholic leaf extract of Solanum surattense (S. surattense) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.MethodsThe male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups with six animals in each group. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (40 mg/kg). After being confirmed the diabetic rats were treated with S. surattense leaf extract (100 mg/kg b.w.) for 45 days. The biochemical estimation like lipid profile and fatty acid composition of tissues was performed.ResultsThe diabetic rats showed elevated levels of blood glucose, and a significant decrease in plasma insulin. It also showed significant increase in the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), phospholipids (PL) and free fattyacids (FFA) in the plasma, liver and kidney. The plasma lipoproteins were changed in diabetic rats. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) increased. Fatty acid compositions were also altered in STZ-diabetic rats. Palmitic, stearic and oleic acids increased and the levels of linolenic and arachidonic acids decreased. It also showed decreased levels of total proteins and albumin. Administration of S. surattense (100 mg/kg b.w.) to diabetic rats for 45 days significantly reversed the above parameters towards normalcy.ConclusionsThe antihyperlipidemic effect is due to the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, triterpenoids and sterols in the extract. The hypolipidemic effect mediated by S. surattense may also be anticipated to have biological significance and provide a scientific rationale for the use of S. surattense as an anti-diabetic plant.