Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Chloroform Seed Extracts of Three Cleome Species and their Synergistic Combination in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Pounraj Kanimathi, Karanam Satya Ramya, Rose Mary Kiriyanthan, Arunachalam Radha
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, oxidative stress, and progressive tissue damage. This study evaluated the antidiabetic, hypolipidaemic, and antioxidant effects of chloroform seed extracts of Cleome rutidosperma, C. gynandra, C. viscosa, and their combined extract in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). Diabetic rats received glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), individual Cleome extracts, or the combined extract (70 mg/kg) orally for 28 days (n=6/group). Fasting blood glucose, body weight, serum lipid profile, liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), hepatic antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx), and pancreatic histopathology were evaluated. Results: All treatments significantly improved diabetic parameters compared with the diabetic control. The combined extract produced the greatest reduction in fasting blood glucose (139.71 ± 6.10 mg/dL on day 28), improved body weight, reduced serum cholesterol and triglycerides, normalized ALT, AST, and ALP activities, enhanced hepatic antioxidant enzyme levels, and markedly restored pancreatic islet architecture. Conclusion: The combined chloroform seed extract of C. rutidosperma, C. gynandra, and C. viscosa exhibited significant antidiabetic, hypolipidaemic, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities in STZ-induced diabetic rats. These findings support its potential as a promising plant-derived antidiabetic candidate and warrant further phytochemical and mechanistic investigations.