REDUCTION IN SERUM GLUCOSE AND CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETIC RATS TREATED WITH EXTRACTS OF AFRICAN MISTLETOE (LORANTHUS-BEGWENSIS)

We studied the comparative metabolic effects of aqueous extracts of th e leaves of Loranthus begwensis, African mistletoe, parasitic on eithe r Citrus limon (Cl mistletoe) or Vernonia amygdalina (Va mistletoe) tr ees. A single dose of 26.4g kg(-1) of the extracts (infusion) prepared from the two sources was administered orally, intravenously and intra muscularly to separate groups of non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induc ed diabetic rats. They were killed at 6, 12 and 24 h post-treatment wi th the infusions. Both extracts, given through the three different rou tes, produced significant reductions (p < 0.001) in serum glucose leve ls in diabetic rats as early as 6 h and steadily over the 24 h period. However, the extract from Va mistletoe had a greater effect in both n on-diabetic and diabetic rats. The oral route of administration also a ppeared to be the most effective in lowering serum glucose. The extrac ts also produced a significant reduction in cholesterol level (p < 0.0 5> in the diabetic rats, but no significant changes in serum creatinin e or in alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase activit ies. Mistletoe extracts from both sources reduced proteinuria and enzy muria. The data confirm the anti-diabetic characteristic of this plant extract, indicating the oral route as the most effective. The potency of the extracts as antidiabetic agents is dependent on the host plant .