Heliotropiumz stnigosum Wilid. (Boraginaceae) is used traditionally as a
laxative,
diuretic, and as a treatment for
snake bites and
stings of nettles. Recent investigations have shown anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant activity of H. sorigosum. However,
antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity of H. strigosum has not been investigated to date and we aimed to explore these activities of the crude aqueous methanolic extract of thEaerial parts of H. strigosum (Hs.Cr). Hs.Cr was administered orally at doses of 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg in
alloxan-induced diabetic rats (type I diabetes) and
fructose-fed rats (type II diabetes). The fasting
blood glucose (FBG) concentration was assessed by glucometer, while semum total
cholesterol,
triglycerides and HDL were estimated by using standard kits. The FBG concentration significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in dose-dependent pattern in both
alloxan-induced diabetic and
fructose-fed rats on Hs.Cr administration. The percentage
glucose reductions in alloxanized rats with
glibenclamide, Hs.Cr 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg were obeserved to be 67, 36, 56 and 62%, respectively. In
fructose-fed rats, the percentage
glucose redutions associated with
metformin, Hs.Cr 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg were 23, 5, 11 and 12%, respectively. The extract also corrected the
dyslipidemia associated with
fructose and
alloxan-induced diabetes by significantly (p < 0.00 1) decreasing the concentration of serum total
cholesterol,
triglycerides and
LDL and by increasing HDL concentration. Our data demonstrate that the H. stigosum has
antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects, thus encouraging further studies.