Abstract

Ayinla M. T, Dada S. O, Shittu S. T*, Olayaki L. A, Akiode A. and Ojulari S. L

This study aims at evaluating the effect of chronic administration of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimium gratissimum on total cholesterol level, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in male albino rats. Twenty-one male albino rats of the Wistar strain weighing between 150 and 200 g were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 7 animals per group as control, diabetic and diabetic treated with O. gratissimum. Diabetes was induced by 100 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. The control and the diabetic groups received distilled water while the diabetic treated group was administered with 400 mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, plasma glucose level, cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL were determined in all the experimental animals after 12 h fast. The result showed significant increases (P<0.05) in plasma cholesterol, TG and LDL level of the diabetic group when compared with the control group while there were no significant differences in the OG-treated diabetic group and the control group. The HDL however was not different in all the three groups. It was then concluded that oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum may reduce the plasma lipid imbalances associated with diabetes mellitus.