Free Radicals Scavenging Potential Of The Aqueous Extract Of Viscum Album (Mistletoe) Leaves In Diabetic Wistar Rats Hepatocytes

The aqueous extract of Viscum album leaf was investigated for its possible hypoglycaemic and antioxidant potentials in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic Wistar rats. A single I.P. injection of STZ at the dose of 65 mg/kg body weight elevated the glucose levels > 205 mg/dl after 3 days. Treatment with the aqueous extract at the dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight resulted in significant reduction (P<0.05) in blood glucose levels. Body weights were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in STZ-Induced diabetic rats when compared to normal rats while the extract significantly (P<0.05) prevented a decrease in body weight in the V. album treated diabetic rats. The aqueous extract of the V. album leaf administration also resulted in decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamins C and E and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) thus resulting in reducing the free radical formation in blood and liver tissues of the diabetic rats. These observations demonstrated that aqueous extract of Viscum album leaf have strong hypoglycaemic effect and in vivo antioxidant activity in STZ-Induced diabetic rats and was dose dependent.