Effect of Aqueous Extract of Phyllanthus niruri (Euphorbiaceae), in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is one of the high incidencia diseases in the world, characterized for a complex metabolic disorder. Because of that, nowadays, scientists are looking for alternatives to control high glycemic levels in these patients, using plants which have hipoglicemic abilities. In the present research, the hipoglicemic and antilypemic effects of liquid extract of Phyllanthus niruri on diabetic rats was evaluated. In order to do it, six week age male rats of Rattus norvegicus (cepa Sprague Dawley) were divided into five groups: normal with water (NW: control), normal with extract (NE), diabetic with water (DW), diabetic with extract (DE) and diabetic with insulin (DI). In order to induce diabetic condition, rats were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan of 100 mg/kg of weight. The plant extract was given on a daily dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight during 45 days (d). The alloxan produced a diabetic condition during the 45 d. The phytochemical compounds of the plant in the liquid extract produced a down on triglyceride and cholesterol levels in diabetic rats during the first 30 d, in relation to diabetic rats without treatment. These results show that metabolites of the liquid fractions of P. niruri have glucoselowering and antilypemic effect on diabetic rats treated with alloxan, which could made of this an alternative treatment to diabetes.