Vol 14, Issue 12, 2021 Online - 2455-3891 Print - 0974-2441 ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDAEMIC EFFECTS OF THE ETHANOL EXTRACT OF THE LEAVES AND STEM OF CISSUS GRACILLIS (GULL ET PERR) (VITACEAE) OLUSAYO A SHORINWA*, GORDON EI EMENU Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Email: olusayo.shorinwa@uniport.edu.ng Received: 28 August 2021, Revised and Accepted: 20 October 2021 ABSTRACT Objectives: This study investigated the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of the ethanol extract of the leaves and stem of Cissus gracillis on alloxan monohydrate-induced diabetic albino rats. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening and acute toxicity were carried out. Animals were assigned into seven groups of five rats each. Groups A and B were administered 10 mg/kg each of glibenclamide and atorvastatin respectively, C, D, and E were given 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of ethanol extract of C. gracillis, respectively, daily for 21 days through oral gavage, group F was diabetic but untreated (diabetic control group), while group G was non-diabetic and untreated which served as the control group. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids/triterpenoids and carbohydrates. LD 50 was above 5000 mg/kg. The extract at 500 mg/kg showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in blood glucose level when compared with the glibenclamide group on day 21. However, gradual non- significant reduction in blood glucose levels were observed in the extract treated groups on the 7 th , 14 th , and 21 st days of treatment. The administration of ethanol extract of C. gracillis to alloxan-induced diabetic rats produced a decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins comparable to glibenclamide and atorvastatin. Conclusion: The ethanol extract of the leaves and stem of C. gracillis possess a mildly significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity. Keywords: Antidiabetic, Anti-hyperlipidaemic, Ethanol, Cissus gracillis, Alloxan, Glibenclamide, Atorvastatin. INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is defined as a metabolic disorder characterized by a persistent elevation of blood glucose levels associated with absence or inadequate insulin secretion, with or without concurrent impairment of insulin action. Diabetes is usually classified according to the etiology, by far the most common two being type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus [1]. Diabetes is a global health problem and accounted for 1.5 million deaths in 2019 [2]. Several pathogenic processes are involved in the development of diabetes, ranging from autoimmune destruction of the β-cells of the pancreas with consequent insulin deficiency to abnormalities that result in resistance to insulin action. The basis of the abnormalities in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism in diabetes is deficient action of insulin on target tissues. Impairment of insulin secretion and defects in insulin action frequently coexist in the same patient, and it is often unclear which abnormality, if either alone, is the primary cause of the hyperglycemia [3]. Besides hyperglycemia, other symptoms such as hyperlipidemia are involved in the development of microvascular complications of diabetes, which are the major causes of morbidity and death [4]. The World Health Organization has also substantiated the utilization of herbal remedies for the management of diabetes [5]. Management of diabetes without hyperlipidemia and various other associated side effects is still a challenge to the medicinal community. Combination of allopathic and herbal drugs may help to reduce the resistance to insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic therapy and the associated side effects. Hence, the continued research on medicinal plants which may serve as templates or leads for newer drugs. Abnormalities in lipid profile are one of the most common complications in diabetes mellitus, which is found in about 40% of diabetes. The level of serum lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, low- density lipoprotein) is usually elevated in diabetes mellitus and such an elevation represents the risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease [6]. Cissus gracillis is an herbaceous, perennial climbing plant producing slender stem up to 7.5 m long. The stem crumbles over the ground, climbing into the surrounding vegetation and attaching themselves by the use of tendrils. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild, mainly as a medicinal, but sometimes also as food [7]. It is known as Anaya or Yaakuwarfataakke (Hausa), Okwukwo-iri nwere-omughor (Ikwerre) in Nigeria [8]. However, some plants in the genus Cissus such as Cissus sycoidesis and Cissus quadrangularis have been reported to have antidiabetic and anti-hyperlipidaemic activity [9,10]. This present study examined the antidiabetic potential and the antihyperlipidaemic effects of ethanol extract of C. gracillis. METHODS Collection of plant materials The plant C. gracillis was collected in Obelle Town, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Authentication was done by Dr. Ekeke Chimezie of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt with the herbarium number UPH/V/1249. Plant extract preparation The plant C. gracillis was collected, cleaned, shade dried for 2 weeks, and pulverized using a mechanical grinder. The plant powder (3.7 kg) was subjected to solvent extraction for 72 h with 17.84 L of absolute ethanol. The extract was concentrated using rotary evaporator and carefully evaporated to dryness over a water bath at 45°C while the dried extract was stored in a refrigerator. © 2021 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2021v14i12.43005. Journal homepage: https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ajpcr Research Article