Uncontrolled hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Hyptis verticillata is reportedly explored traditionally for its therapeutic benefits. Resulting from the paucity of information on the anti-hyperglycaemic potential of this plant, the present study assessed the anti-hyperglycaemic activity of H. verticillata leaf extract. Fifty-four albino Wistar rats were divided into two main groups consisting of diabetic and non-diabetic rats. The diabetic and non-diabetic rats were either treated with oral doses of metformin (500 mg/kg b.w.), quercetin (10 mg/kg b.w.), ethanol extract of H. verticillata leaf (low dose: 250 mg/kg b.w.) or H. verticillata (high dose: 500 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days. Results showed significantly decreased body weight, increased fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, decreased pancreatic islet area and β-cell number in the diabetic untreated group, relative to normal control. H. verticillata - treated diabetic rats showed decreased FBG and HbA1c, increased body weight, pancreatic islet area and β-cell number, comparable to the effects of metformin. GCMS analysis of H. verticillata showed the presence of ten bioactive volatile compounds, with squalene which possess strong antioxidant, hypoglycaemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects, as the most abundant. We therefore conclude that H. verticillata has anti-hyperglycaemic properties.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Glycated haemoglobin; Hyptis verticillata; Metformin; quercetin.
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