Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic and Hepatoprotective Activities of Ripe and Unripe Carica papaya Methanol Extracts in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v5i9.23

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is associated with elevated plasma glucose levels, hyperlipidemia and hepatic dysfunction. Hence, we investigated the effect of ripe and unripe Carica papaya methanolextract (CPME) on blood glucose levels, lipid profile, liver biomarker enzymes and plasma total protein in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty rats were equally distributed into 6 groups: Group 1 (vehicle treated); group 2 received 500 mg/kg ripe CPME for 21 days; group 3 received 500 mg/kg unripe CPME for 21 days; group 4 received STZ (65 mg/kg once); group 5 received STZ (65 mg/kg once) and 500 mg/kg ripe CPME; group 6 received STZ (65 mg/kg once) and 500 mg/kg unripe CPME. Blood glucose was measured on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 after which animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected for estimation of biochemical parameters. Ripe and unripe CPME significantly (p<0.05) reduced plasma glucose, total cholesterol (119.78 ± 2.67 mg/dL and 113.11 ± 2.51 mg/dL), triglyceride (164.79 ± 6.19 and 135.79 ± 4.44 mg/dL), low density lipoprotein 54.71 ± 3.24 and 44.70 ± 2.89 mg/dL), very low density lipoprotein (30.80 ± 2.79 and 28.86 ± 2.28 mg/dL), AST (60.67 ± 3.79 and 58.33 ± 1.14 U/L), ALT (56.33 ± 9.57 and 56.00 ± 8.37 U/L) and TP (7.02 ± 0.23 and 6.85 ± 0.30 g/dL) levels and significantly (p<0.05) increased high density lipoprotein (39.72 ± 4.26 and 31.44 ± 8.56 mg/dL) levels of the treated animals. Ripe and unripe C. papaya methanol extracts showed hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective activities in STZ-induced diabetic rats with the unripe fruit being more effective.