Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidaemic Effects of Feed Formulated with Ceiba Pentandra Leaves in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

In this study, the hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of feed prepared with Ceiba pentandra leaves was investigated in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Twenty five (25) Wister albino male rats weighing 105-162g assigned into 5 groups (I-V) of 5 rats per group were investigated. Diabetes was induced in Groups I-IV by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (200 mg/Kg body weight) while rats in group V were normal. While animals in groups I, II and III received experimental feeds containing 10 %, 15 % and 20 % dry powdered leaves of Ceiba pentandra respectively, for a period of three (3) weeks, those in groups IV and V received normal rat feeds and acted as diabetic and non-diabetic controls respectively. In addition to plasma glucose, plasma lipids {total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (Tg), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)}, total protein and albumin were determined by standard laboratory techniques. Plasma glucose was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the treated rats when compared with the controls, with feed containing 20 % of the leaves having the greatest effect. All the groups showed increases in body weight, which was least in group that received 20 % of the experimental feed. However while HDL was elevated (p < 0.05) in the treated animals, LDL, VLDL and Tg showed significant (p <0.05) decreases. Also total protein and albumin were elevated (p > 0.05) in the treated groups compared with the controls. The result therefore demonstrates that C. pentandra leaves at moderate concentrations, exert both hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects in alloxan induced diabetic rats in a dose dependent fashion. Therefore, C. pentandra leaves could be of importance in the treatment of diabetes and its associated complications such as coronary artery disease