Effects of ‘ZPC’ Polyherbal Formulation on Diabetic-Dyslipidemic Wistar Rats

In this study the antidiabetic effect of a polyherbal formulation- ZPC was investigated in Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Rats having Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) level above 250 mg/dl after 72 hrs were considered diabetic and used for the studies. Five rats served as non- diabetic control (Group 1) while twenty diabetic rats were randomized into 4 groups of 5 rats each. The four groups (Groups 2,3,4 and 5) received 1ml (diabetic control), 250 mg/kg chlorpropamide and ZPC at doses of 250 and 500mg/kg respectively for 28 days. During the treatment period, the FBS and bodyweight of rats were monitored weekly and on day 28, the rats were euthanized and blood samples collected for serum lipid profile analysis. Results obtained indicated that following administration of streptozotocin, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the FBS, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL concentration with a corresponding significant (p<0.05) decrease in HDL concentration compared to non- diabetic control. However, following the treatment with the polyherbal formulation, there was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the FBS level and a significant (p<0.05) increase in the body weight of rats compared to the diabetic control. The polyherbal formulation also produced a significant (p<0.05) reduction in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL concentration with a corresponding significant (p<0.05) increase in HDL concentration compared to diabetic control. It was concluded that, ZPC might serve as a good alternative or as an adjunct to the oral hypoglycaemic agents in the management of diabetes.