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Effect of 50% Hydro‑Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Ruellia Tuberosa L. and
Dipteracanthus Patulus (Jacq.) on Lipid Profile in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats
Manikandan Ananthakrishnan, Victor Arokia Doss
Department of Biochemistry, PSG College of Arts
and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Correspondence to:
Dr. A. Manikandan,
Department of Biochemistry,
Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women, Elayampalayam,
Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
E‑mail: manivivekanandha10@gmail.com
Date of Submission: Nov 27, 2011
Date of Acceptance: Feb 19, 2012
Original Article
How to cite this article: Ananthakrishnan M, Doss VA.
Effect of 50% Hydro‑Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Ruellia
Tuberosa L. and Dipteracanthus Patulus (Jacq.) on Lipid
Profile in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats. Int J Prev Med
2013;4:744‑7.
ABSTRACT
Background: The study was undertaken to investigate the effect
of 50% hydro ‑ethanolic leaf extracts of Ruellia tuberosa L. and
Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.) on lipid profile in alloxan induced
diabetic rats.
Method: In lipid profile the parameters studied were serum total
cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, HDL‑c, LDL‑c and
VLDL‑c level. Extracts were orally administered daily for 30 days
at a dosage of 250 and 500 mg/kg bodyweight to alloxan induced
diabetic rats.
Results: The levels of phospholipids, triglycerides, LDL‑c and
VLDL‑c were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. The HDL‑c level
was found to be increased in the treatment groups. Total cholesterol
level was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) decreased at 500 mg/
kg bodyweight of both the plant extracts treated groups.
Conclusion: The results further suggests that the effect of plant
extract treated groups was found to be lower in reducing the lipid
levels in serum when compared to the drug (Glibenclamide 600
μg/kg body weight) treated group.
Keywords: Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.), lipid profile, Ruellia
tuberosa L
INTRODUCTION
Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder
characterized by altered carbohydrate, lipid and protein
metabolism.[1] The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated
with long term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs.
In diabetic rats, the utilization of impaired carbohydrate leads
to accelerate lipolysis, resulted in hyperlipidemia.[2] However,
complete cure of the disease has been eluding physicians for
centuries and the quest for the development of more effective
anti‑diabetic agents is pursued relentlessly. Many herbal products,
including several metals and minerals have been described for
the cure of diabetes mellitus in ancient literature.[3]
Ruellia tuberosa L. is a tropical plant and widely distributed in
Southeast Asia. In folk medicine, it has been used as anti‑diabetic,
antipyretic, analgesic, anti hypertensive, thirst‑ quenching, and
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Manikandan and Doss: Effect of 50% Hert and Hedp
antidotal agent.[4] Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.)
belongs to the family Acanthaceae, it is used for
curing eyesore by introducing the extract into the
eyelid. It is commonly known as Kiranthinayagam
or Kayappacchilai in Tamil. The leaves were
ground into paste and used to treat fresh wounds,
itches, insect bites, venereal diseases, sores, tumors
and rheumatic complaints.[5] Pharmacological
and phytochemical studies indicate that it has
cardiotonic activity.[6]
METHODS
Plant material
The fresh leaves of Ruellia tuberosa L. and
Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.) were collected from
ABS (Altogether Botanical Species) Medicinal
Plants Garden, Karipatti, Salem, Tamil Nadu,
India. The plant was identified by the herbarium
of Botanical Survey of India (BSI) southern circle,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) (No:
BSI/SC/5/23/08‑09/Tech‑ 118, 229).
Preparation of 50% hydroethanolic leaf
extracts of Ruellia tuberosa L. and Dipteracanthus
patulus (Jacq.)
The fresh leaves of Ruellia tuberosa L. and
Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.) collected (6 kg),
were shade dried for five days and crushed to
coarse powder (3 kg). The coarse powder thus
obtained was cold macerated with 1.5 liters of
50% ethanol (Ethanol:Water in 1:1 ratio) and kept
for 3 days at room temperature, with occasional
stirring.[7] The suspension was filtered through a
fine muslin cloth and was evaporated to dryness at
a low temperature (at 40ºC) under reduced pressure
in a rotary evaporator. Dark brown colored crystals
obtained were used for the studies.
Experimental animals
Healthy swiss albino rats of six to eight weeks
old weighing about 110‑120 g were obtained from
the animal facility of PSG Institute of Medical
Science and Research (No: 158/1999/CPCSEA),
Coimbatore, India. The rats were grouped and
housed in polyacrylic cages and maintained under
standard conditions (25 ± 2ºC) with 12 ± 1 h
dark/light cycle. The animals were fed with rat pellet
feed supplied by Hindustan Lever Ltd., Bangalore,
India and water ad libitum. All procedures described
were reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethical
Committee (AEC).
Induction of diabetes mellitus
Alloxan monohydrate was used to induce
diabetes mellitus in normoglycemic rats. Animals
were allowed to fast for 18 h and were injected
intraperitoneally with freshly prepared alloxan
monohydrate in sterile normal saline at a dose of
120 mg/Kg body weight.
Treatment groups
The animals were divided into seven groups of six
animals in each group, after two week acclimatization
period. Group I (Normal control + normal saline
5 ml/kg body weight), Group II (Diabetic control),
Group III (Drug control ‑ Glibenclamide 600 μg/kg
body weight), Group IV (Diabetes + 250 mg/kg
body weight 50% HERT), Group V (Diabetes +
500 mg/kg body weight 50% HERT), Group VI
(Diabetes + 250 mg/kg body weight 50% HEDP),
Group VII (Diabetes + 500 mg/kg body weight
50% HEDP). (50% HEDP/HERT – hydroethanolic
leaf extract of Ruellia tuberosa L./Dipteracanthus
patulus (Jacq.)). After the end of experimental period
(30 days), the rats were fasted overnight and sacrificed
by cervical decapitation. Serum was separated from
the blood collected, by centrifugation and the serum
was stored at ‑4ºC for biochemical analysis.
Biochemical analysis
Estimation of serum cholesterol was done
by Richmond (1973),[8] HDL‑cholesterol was
determined by Castelli et al.[9] Triglyceride and
phospholipid was estimated by Philip and Mayne
(1994),[10] Raheja, et al.[11] VLDL (Very Low
Density Lipoprotein) ‑ cholesterol was calculated
by; triglyceride/5; LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein)
cholesterol. Cholesterol was calculated by the
equation of Friedewald et al.[12] LDL‑c = total
cholesterol (HDL‑c + VLDL).
Statistical analysis
Data was reported as mean ± SD by using the
Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). The
data for all the parameters was analyzed by using
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the group
means were compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range
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Manikandan and Doss: Effect of 50% Hert and Hedp
Figure 1: Effect of 50% hydroethanolic leaf extracts of
Ruellia tuberosa L. and Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.) on
cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipid levels in the
serum of alloxan induced diabetic rats
Test (DMRT). Values are considered statistically
significant at P < 0.05.[13]
RESULTS
The results of the serum lipid profile [Figures 1
and 2] shows that in alloxan induced diabetic rats
(Group II) there was not onlyhyperglycemia but also
hyperlipidemia in which serum triglycerides, total
cholesterol and phospholipids levels were increased
significantly when compared to the control group
(Group I). Treatment of diabetic rats with 50%
hydro‑ethanolic leaf extracts of Ruellia tuberosa L.
and Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.) (Group IV to
VII) for 4 weeks resulted in a significant decrease
in serum phospholipids, triglycerides, LDL‑c and
VLDL‑c and increase in HDL‑c level was found
as compared to diabetic control. Total cholesterol
level was found to be significantly decreased in the
administration of 500 mg/kg body weight of 50%
hydro‑ethanolic leaf extracts of Ruellia tuberosa L.
and Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.). Group treated
with Glibenclamide 600 μg/kg body weight was
found to be effective in lowering the lipid profile
level as compared to plant extracts treatment groups.
DISCUSSION
It has been established that diabetes mellitus
causes change in the normal metabolism of lipids
in diabetic rats.[14] It is seen that cholesterol and
triglyceride were elevated in diabetic condition[15]
such an elevation represented the risk factor for
coronary heart disease.[16] There was a reduction
in the cholesterol and triglyceride level of diabetic
rats after 50% hydro‑ethanolic leaf extracts of
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Figure 2: Effect of 50% hydroethanolic leaf extracts of
Ruellia tuberosa L. and Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.)
on HDL, LDL, and VLDL‑cholesterol levels in serum of
alloxan induced diabetic rats
Ruellia tuberosa L. and Dipteracanthus patulus
(Jacq.) treatment. It is well known that LDL plays
an important role in arteriosclerosis and that
hypercholesterolemia, which is associated with
a defect relating to the lack of LDL receptors.
In diabetes mellitus, the level of VLDL will be
increased with a decrease in HDL.[17] Contrary to
our results, Vinuthan, et al.,[18] have reported that
VLDL and LDL level was found to be decreased
and HDL level was increased during plant extracts
treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that, oral administration
of 50% hydro‑ethanolic leaf extracts of Ruellia
tuberosa L. and Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.) was
not effective in reducing the serum lipid levels
associated with diabetes mellitus when compared
to that of the drug (Glibenclamide 600 μg/kg body
weight) administered. We suggest that the lowering
of lipids to certain level by 50% hydro‑ethanolic
leaf extracts of Ruellia tuberosa L. and Dipteracanthus
patulus (Jacq.) may be due to the presence of
phytochemicals, which has been reported already.[19]
However, further pharmacological investigations
are needed to find out the mechanism of action of
the active components involved.
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Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared.
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