This study aimed to isolate and identify flavonoids with hypoglycemic activity in Costus spiralis leaves. The methanolic extract (ME) was rich in flavonoids, while the powdered leaves (PL) contained considerable amounts of macro- and microelements. Oral acute treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats for 18 h with the C. spiralis PL, ME and isolated guaijaverin (GUA) lowered glycemia, improved oral glucose tolerance and inhibited liver lipid peroxidation. GUA and ME lowered plasma levels of low-density and non-high density lipoproteins; GUA also lowered total cholesterol levels. PL, ME and GUA did not significantly alter the plasma levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins, creatinine and aspartate transaminase, and the total protein levels in the kidney and liver tissues. Therefore, C. spiralis leaves are promising raw materials and rich sources of bioactive flavonoids for the development of novel antidiabetic drugs due to their hypoglycemic, antidyslipidemic and antioxidant actions.
Keywords: Costaceae; Costus spiralis; biological activity; diabetes; dyslipidemia; flavonoids; guaijaverin; phytochemistry.
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