Effect of Bulnesia sarmienti ethanol extract on plasma levels of glucose and lipid in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

This study examined the effects of Bulnesia sarmienti ethanol extract on lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague Dawley rats were induced with diabetes mellitus by injecting STZ (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein, and were then divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, and three experimental diabetic groups. The rats were fed a basal diet along with B. sarmienti ethanol extract for 8 weeks. According to the results, after 8 weeks of consuming the experimental diets, the body weights and food efficiency ratios of the B. sarmienti ethanol extract-fed groups were not different from those of the control group. However, the concentrations of plasma total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly lower in the B. sarmienti ethanol extract groups as compared to those of the control group. Although a blood glucose control effect was not observed after the eight weeks of B. sarmienti ethanol extract treatment in this type-1 diabetes model, it was discovered that the experimental diets were highly effective at lowering levels of serum lipids, including triglycerides, total-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol.