Ethanolic Extract of Leaves of Newbouldia laevis Attenuates Glycosylation of Hemoglobin and Lipid Peroxidation in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is one of the major health problems around the world and the incidence of this metabolic disorder is on the increase. Current therapeutic interventions have not done much in preventing complications of diabetes. Therefore this study investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of Newbouldia laevis leaves (NLet) on lipid peroxidation and glycosylation of hemoglobin, which are pathological indicators of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by intravenous injection of streptozotocin (60 mg kg-1). Diabetic rats were then treated orally with NLet for 28 days. After the treatment, the concentration of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver, kidney and pancreas of the rats was estimated. Fasting blood glucose was determined and oral glucose tolerance test was also carried out. Other groups of STZ-diabetic rats were treated for 8 weeks and percentage glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured. Fasting blood glucose of treated diabetic rats significantly (p