Effect of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves extract on blood glucose and plasma lipid levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Aim of the study: To investigate the hypoglycemic effects of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves (VBTL) extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Materials and methods: After administration of VBTL extract for 4 weeks, the body weight, organ weight, blood glucose (BC), insulin and plasma lipid levels of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were measured. Results: Body weights of diabetic mice treated with VBTL extract were partly recovered. The BG levels of AEG (diabetic mice treated with VBTL aqueous extract) were reduced to 91.52 and 85.82% at week 2 and week 4, respectively (P < 0.05), while those of EEG (diabetic mice treated with VBTL ethanolic extract) were reduced slightly (P > 0.05). The insulin levels of AEG and EEG were obviously higher (P < 0.05) than those of MC (diabetic mice in model control group). Comparing with MC, AEG and EEG had significantly lower (P < 0.05) TC or TG levels and similar HDL-cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol levels. In comparison with non-diabetic control mice, AEG had similar plasma lipid levels except higher LDL-cholesterol level, while EEG had higher TC, TG and LDL-cholesterol levels and lower HDL-cholesterol levels. Conclusions: Both aqueous and ethanolic extract of VBTL possess a potential hypoglycemic effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.