Evaluation of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of methanol extract of Brassica oleracea

AIM: The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of the methanol extract of Brassica oleracea var. capitata (MEB) was evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. METHOD: The study was conducted on twenty-eight healthy white rabbits of either sex. All animals were equally divided into four groups. After confirmation of hyperglycemia, the animals of the treated and standard groups were administered MEB (500 mg.kg(-1)) and glibenclamide (10 mg.kg(-1)), respectively for 15 and 30 days. The animals of the normal and diabetic controls received normal saline 1 mL/day equivalent to the volume of doses given to the test and standard animals. Biochemical tests were performed at the end of dosing, i.e. the 16th and 31st days. RESULTS: The MEB revealed a decrease of 106.6 mg.dL(-1) in fasting blood glucose as compared to diabetic control, which was almost comparable to glibenclamide; both of these changes were highly significant. The decrease in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein was 94.3 and 96.5 mg.dL(-1), respectively, whereas the high-density lipoprotein was increased by 26.7 mg.dL(-1), as compared to diabetic control. All of the changes in lipid profile were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the potential of MEB as a hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agent.