Modulatory Effect of Whole Flour and Hydroalcoholic Extract of Finger Millet (Elusine coracana) on the Abnormalities Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Hyperlipidemic Diabetic Rats

Abstract- The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of whole flour and hydroalcoholic extract of finger millet (Elusine coracana) in high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin induced metabolic syndrome in rats. The HFD was fed to the rats for a period of 45 days to induce hyperlipidemia. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65mg/kg i.p) in 0.1M citrate buffer pH 4.5. Animals with fasting blood sugar level of 250 mg/dl were considered as hyperlipidemic diabetic rats (HDR) and were selected for the study. The HDR were divided into five groups with six animals in each group and one group of normal animals. The HDR received whole flour and hydroalcoholic extract of Elusine coracana at a dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for a period of 21 days. Body weight, body mass index, fasting blood sugar level, lipid profile and the level of oxidative stress was measured in animals after the treatment. All treatments significantly decreased body weight, BMI, fasting blood sugar and also improved lipid profile in HDR as compared to the toxicant control. The treatments significantly reduced the level of lipid peroxidation and improved superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione in the pancreas of HDR. Whole flour and hydroalcoholic extract of Elusine coracana at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg caused significant alleviation of the abnormalities of metabolic syndrome in rats. Keywords: Finger millet, High fat diet, Hyperlipidemic diabetic rats, Metabolic syndrome.