Oreocnide integrifolia (Gaud.) Miq leaf water extract improves metabolic alterations in high fructose fed insulin resistant and hypertensive rats

Aims of the studyThe present study demonstrates the folklore use of Oreocnide integrifolia (Gaud.) Miq (OI) leaf extract used by the people of northeast India and scientifically validates the ethnomedicinal claims against diabetes and hypertension in an experimental rat model.Materials and methodsMale Charles foster rats were fed high fructose diet (60 g/100 g) for a period of 6 weeks for induction of insulin resistance and hypertension. Animals were divided into five groups (a) control, (b) fructose control, (c) fructose + OI 250, (d) fructose + OI 500 and (e) fructose + Metformin. Plasma levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins, free fatty acids along with glucose tolerance and insulin response tests were evaluated. Mean arterial blood pressure was measured at the end of 6-week period and the animals were further challenged with acetylcholine, phenylephrine, isoprenaline or adrenaline to assess the vascular reactivity in vivo.ResultsFructose fed rats exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, elevated lipid profile along with poor glucose tolerance and insulin response pattern. OI extract treated group of animals showed remarkable potential to lower all these manifestations and showed improved vascular response when challenged with different drugs displaying its antihypertensive property.ConclusionThe benefits of using OI extract in a model of metabolic syndrome validate the potential of OI extract as a therapeutant against diabetes associated hypertension.