In vitro Antioxidant, Antihyperglycaemic and Antihyperlipidaemic Activities of Ethanol Extract of Lawsonia inermis Leaves

Aim: This present study investigated the free radical scavenging activities, antihperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic activities of ethanol extract of Lawsonia inermis leaves.
Study Design: Twenty male rats were randomly and evenly distributed into four groups, and were subsequently exposed to the following treatments for twenty-one days: Group I (Control): Normal saline; Group II: Untreated Diabetic control; Group III: Diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (600mg/Kg. b.wt); Group IV: Diabetic rats treated with ethanol extract of Lawsonia inermis (400mg/Kg b.wt).
Place and Duration of Study: This work was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria between November 2012 and February 2013.
Methodology: Phytochemical screening and the antioxidant activities of the plant extract were carried out. Brine shrimp lethality assay was also carried out on the plant extract for In vitro toxicity assay. Blood samples collected from the experimental rats were used for the determination of fasting blood sugar and biochemical profiles following the last oral treatment and an overnight fast.
Results: Lawsonia inermis showed maximum inhibition of 77.39%, 50.78% and 83.18 % at 100µg/ml DPPH free radical scavenging activity, in vitro lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide respectively. Following twenty-one days of treatment with oral administration of ethanol extract of Lawsonia inermis leaves, fasting blood glucose was significantly reduced (P<0.001) compared to the untreated diabetic control. Activities of AST, ALT, and ALP were significantly decreased (P<0.001) in the diabetic rats treated with the extract compared to the untreated diabetic control rats. Diabetic rats treated with ethanolic leaf extract of Lawsonia inermis showed statistically significant decrease (P<0.001) in the levels of total cholesterol, total triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol when compared with untreated diabetic rats.
Conclusion: The ethanol extract of Lawsonia inermis leaves showed antioxidant, antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic activities.