EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS ON BLOOD GLUCOSE, BODY WEIGHT, AND PANCREATIC ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) is widely used in folk medicine as an antioxidant and for pancreas ailments. This study investigated the effects of its aqueous extract on diabetic and oxidative status in normal and streptozotocin-induced (STZ-induced) diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg body weight) in the diabetic groups. Treated groups received oral administration of aqueous lemongrass extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight daily for 21 days. Biochemical studies measured body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, and pancreatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Relative to the normal control (NC) rats, the extract caused a significant decrease ( P < 0.05) in final blood glucose in normal treated (NT) rats. STZ injection resulted in a significant increase ( P < 0.05) in FBG in diabetic control (DC) rats compared to NC rats. However, FBG in diabetic treated (DT) rats was not statistically different ( P > 0.05) compared to DC rats. The extract caused an insignificant decrease ( P > 0.05) in body weight in NT rats compared to NC rats, while STZ caused a significant decrease ( P < 0.05) in DC rats compared to NC rats. Weight gained by DT rats was not statistically different ( P > 0.05) compared to DC rats. SOD and catalase activities in the pancreatic tissues of NT and DT rats were not statistically different ( P > 0.05) when compared to NC and DC groups, as the activities of all four groups were statistically similar ( P > 0.05). The aqueous lemongrass extract was ineffective against STZ-induced diabetes, as it did not significantly increase body weight nor decrease blood glucose levels in the diabetic rats. However, it did cause hypoglycemia in the normal rats. No oxidative damage to the pancreas was observed from the aqueous lemongrass extract.