Effect of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf (DC) on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-induced Dyslipidemia: Current Knowledge

C. E. Ekpenyong Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
U. C. Inyang Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria.

Keywords: Cymbopogon citratus stapf, diabetes, dyslipidemia, atherogenic risk, rats.

Introduction: Diabetic dyslipidemia (DD) is a collection of quantitative, qualitative and kinetic lipid

abnormalities associated with diabetes mellitus that together caused the lipid profile to become more

atherogenic. It consists of elevated serum concentration of triglyceride-cholesterol (TG-C), a high

serum level of small dense low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (sd LDL-C), low level of high-density

lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and normal to slightly elevated level of total low density lipoproteincholesterol

(LDL-C).

Aims:

Diabetic dyslipidemia is a recognized risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Plant

medicinal agents such as Cymbopogon citratus (C. citratus) have shown potential as alternative

therapies for reducing cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of

citratus leaf extract on the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in diabetic dyslipidemic rats (n=35).

Materials and Methods: A C. citratus extract was prepared by ethanol extraction of leaf material.

Rats were divided into seven groups (n=5) as follows: (a) Normal diet control, (b) Hyperlipidemic diet

(HLD) control, (c) HLD + 65 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) control (d) HLD + STZ + 250 mg/kg C.

citratus extract (CCE), (e) HLD + STZ + 500 mg/kg CCE, (f) HLD + STZ + 1000 mg/kg CCE, and (g)

HLD + STZ + 5 mg/kg atorvastatin + 600 g/g glibenclamide. Animals were treated with HLD for 14

days and then injected intraperitoneally with 65 mg/kg STZ. Confirmed diabetic dyslipidemic animals

were treated intragastrically with CCE at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, with 5 mg/kg

atorvastatin, and with 600 g/g glibenclamide for 30 days.

Results: The extract, which tested positive for tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, etc. lowered

fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and dose-dependently decreased the

serum levels of T-chol, LDL, VLDL, and b-HMG-CoA reductase, while simultaneously increasing HDL

levels. The AIP was lowered in a dose-dependent manner by 33, 43.7, and 52.4% in groups treated

with 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of CCE respectively.

Conclusion: The results indicate that the C. citratus extract had an ameliorative effect on

hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and atherogenic index of plasma.