ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2021 November;180(11):730-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.21.04569-1

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Effects of Citrus limon leaf extract on blood glucose and lipid profile in alloxan monohydrate-induced diabetic rats

Raed A. HALALSHEH ¹ ✉, Ahmad S. KHATTAB ¹, Foad E. ALZOUGHOOL ¹, Hakam H. ALKHATEEB ²

¹ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Health Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan; ² Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent disease which can be managed by synthetic drugs, in addition to numerous plant substances. Due to the lack of studies on the effects of citrus species in managing diabetes, the effects of Citrus limon leaf extract on blood glucose and lipid profile were investigated.
METHODS: Sixty-three healthy albino rats that were given alloxan monohydrate to induce diabetes. The rats were divided into three groups of 21. Within the control group, seven rats received only food and water, seven were injected with alloxan monohydrate, and seven were injected with alloxan monohydrate and treated with 100 mg/kg of metformin. Group two and three were all injected with alloxan monohydrate and given a daily oral dose of three different levels of Citrus limon leaf hexane or ethanol extract. Serum glucose, cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and triglycerides were measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period. At the end of trial, the kidney, liver, heart, pancreas and spleen were harvested and weighed.
RESULTS: The oral administration of Citrus limon leaf ethanol and hexane extracts significantly decreased (P<0.05) blood glucose levels, cholesterol and LDL. The ethanol extract also significantly increased (P<0.05) serum HDL and decreased the triglyceride level compared to the control group. There was no significant effect (P>0.05) of either extract on organ weights compared to control.
CONCLUSIONS: Citrus limon leaf extract might be used as an effective therapy to normalize glucose homeostasis and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

KEY WORDS: Blood glucose; Lipids; Homeostasis