Ethanol extract of Butea monosperma bark modulates dyslipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemia is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus (DM). The availability of multiple lipid-lowering drugs and supplements provides new opportunities for patients to regulate lipid levels.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Butea monosperma Lam. (Fabaceae) bark extract in diabetes-induced dyslipidemia.

METHODS

A daily dose of B. monosperma bark extract (BMBE, 500 mg/kg body weight) was given orally to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats for 60 d. Several indices such as blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, TC, TG, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), apo A1, apo B, activities of lipogenic enzymes in tissues, liver function tests, and histopathology of liver were analyzed to assess the modulation of STZ-induced diabetic dyslipidemia by B. monosperma bark.

RESULTS

BMBE significantly reduced blood glucose (40.79%) and increased plasma insulin (37.5%) levels in diabetic rats. Altered levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins, and activities of lipogenic enzymes in tissues were partially restored upon the administration of BMBE in diabetic rats. Liver function tests and histopathological examination revealed that consumption of BMBE at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight had no toxic effects in experimental rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that BMBE supplementation could ameliorate dyslipidemia in DM.