Antidiabetic activity of the aqueous extract of leaves in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model in Wistar rats.

Backgroud: is a herbaceous plant used in traditional Cameroonian medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic properties of the aqueous extract of leaves (AEEF) in diabetic rats.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) in normal rats fasted for 16 h.

Evaluation of the diuretic effects of crude stem bark extraction of Zanthoxylum heitzii (Rutaceae) in Wistar rats.

Objective: Zanthoxylum heitzii is a medicinal plant widely used in central Africa for the treatment of many diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. The diuretic effects of crude stem bark extraction were determined and its safety in rats was evaluated.

Methods: The diuretic effects of crude stem bark extraction of Z.

Hypolipidemic, antioxidant and anti-atherosclerogenic effects of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum heitzii stem bark in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats.

Objective: To evaluate anti-dyslipidemic, antioxidant and anti-atherosclerogenic properties of this extract in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rat, a model of metabolic syndrome-induced atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: Normocholesterolemic (NC) male rats were divided into six groups (n=10) and fed a high-cholesterol (HC) diet for 30 days (5 groups), or normal rat chow (normal control group). Rats given a HC diet also received distilled water (disease control), the potent hypocholesterolemic agent with anti-atherosclerotic activity atorvastatin (2 mg/kg, positive control), or one of the three doses of Zanthoxylum heitzii stem bark aqueous extract tested (225, 300 and 375 mg/kg) concomitantly for four months.