COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF CITRUS LIMON LEAVES IN ALLOXAN INDUCED HYPERGLYCEMIA IN MICE

Abstract

The objective of the study was comparative study of two different solvent extracts of Citrus limon leaves in alloxaninduced hyperglycemia in mice. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of lemon leaves were prepared using a Soxhlet extractor. Diabetes was induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan (70 mg/kg b.w.) and blood glucose levels were measured by a glucose meter during the experimental study. The results were compared to both methanolic and ethanolic extracts at the same dose (150mg/kg b.w.). It was found that the methanolic lemon leaves extract was potent than ethanolic lemon leaves extract. The results showed a significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in blood glucose revert back to near normal level in alloxan-induced diabetic mice administered with (150 mg/kg b.w.) methanolic and ethanolic leaves extracts. Overall, the results suggest that both ethanolic and methanolic lemon leaves extract contains an effective anti-hyperglycemic potential which may find applied in the treatment of diabetes without causing toxic effects.