Poor control of diabetes mellitus can result to impairment in lipid profile culminating to dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease and stroke. Measurement of triglyceride (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are recommended in cardiovascular screening. Herbal and natural products have been used in folk medicine for centuries throughout the world. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of ethanol leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata on lipid profile of streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar albino rats. All the chemicals and reagents used in this research were of analytical grade. A total of 48 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=8): diabetic rats in group 1 were not treated, rather received only 0.5ml normal saline; 0.5mg glibenclamide was given to diabetic rats in group 2; non-diabetic rats in group 3 received 0.5ml normal saline only, diabetic rats that were treated with 250 mg/kg, 350mg/kg and 450mg/kg b.w of ethanol leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata, were labeled groups 4, 5 and 6, respectively. At the end of the 21 days study period, the rats were fasted overnight and blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture. Lipid profile was assayed using standard biochemical methods. Injection of streptozotocin led to a significant (p<0.05) decline in HDL-C while the levels of TAG, TC, and LDL-C increased significantly. Remarkably, treatment with 250 mg/kg, 350mg/kg and 450mg/kg b.w of ethanol leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata led to reversal of the altered lipid profile. However, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) when the Chromolaena odorata extract-treated groups were compared to group 2 rats (treated with glibenclamide), a known standard antidiabetic drug. In conclusion, results from this research indicated that the ethanol leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata possess hypo-cholesterolaemic and hypo-triacylglycerolaemic effects as the extract decreased the LDL-cholesterol and increased the HDL-cholesterol levels.

Keywords: Chromolaena odorata, cholesterol, streptozotocin, Diabetes mellitus, Lipid profile, dyslipidemia.

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