Original Article HYPOGLYCEMIC AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF ANNONA MURICATA L. LEAF ETHANOL EXTRACT E. SOVIA, W. RATWITA, D. WIJAYANTI, D. R. NOVIANTY Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani, Jl Terusan Jenderal Sudirman,Cimahi, West Java, Indonesia Email: soviaevi@yahoo.com Received: 30 Nov 2016 Revised and Accepted: 17 Jan 2017 ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Annona muricata leaf ethanol extract. This study also investigated phytochemical analysis of the extract and improvement in the islet of Langerhans. Methods: Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects were evaluated using alloxan induced diabetic rats. Twenty-five Wistar rats devided into five groups, that are normal group, control group that induced by alloxan 125 mg/kg body weight and given CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), and three treatment group that induced by alloxan and given Annona muricata leaf ethanol extract (AMLEE) with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Blood glucose and total cholesterol levels were measured before and after alloxan induction, and 21 d after AMLEE treatment. At the end of the study, all of the animals experiment were sacrificed for histopathological examination. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed that flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phytosterols and phenols were present in ethanol extract of Annona muricata L. leaf. At the end of the study, blood glucose and total cholesterol levels in all AMLEE treated group were decreased significantly (p<0.05). Final blood glucose level in the groups that given AMLEE 50 mg/kg body weight (86.7±14.6 mg/dl) was almost the same with that of the normal group (91.25±28.38 mg/dl). The result of the histopathological examination is not showed an improvement of the islet of Langerhans in AMLEE treated groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ethanol extract of Annona muricata L. leaf have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. However, there was no improvement in the islet of Langerhans damage. Keywords: Annona muricata, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic, Phytochemical, Alloxan © 2016 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/ijpps.2017v9i3.16402 INTRODUCTION Diabetes is a disease characterised by abnormal glucose metabolism, a risk of developing microvascular complications specific to diabetes and a markedly increased risk of developing macrovascular complications [1]. Diabetes also plays an important role in the oxidative stress and abnormal lipid metabolism that leads dyslipidemia, a frequent complication of diabetes [2]. Hence, drugs that have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects are very useful to manage diabetic and its complications. Herbal remedies have been used traditionally in many parts of the world to cure several diseases. Annona muricata L. (Soursop) which belongs to the family of Annonaceae is an evergreen tree species used as traditional medicines. The plant possesses the major pharmacological activities includes cytotoxicity, antileishmanial, wound healing, and anti-microbial activity [3]. It also has been reported to have anticarcinogenic and genotoxic, antiviral, antifungal, antihelmin, analgesic and antipyretic, hypotensive, anti- inflammatory, and immune enhancing effects [4 -5]. Soursop leaves are the most beneficial parts of this tree. It has the acetogenins containing compounds namely bulatacin, asimisin and squamosin [4]. Phytochemical analysis of Annona muricata leaf extract revealed the presence of secondary metabolites like tannins, steroids, and cardiac glycosides [3]. The nutrients in soursop leaves also believed to stabilize blood sugar level in the normal range that very useful for diabetics management [4]. Several studies have shown that Annona muricata leaf had antihyperglycemic activity and revealed regeneration of pancreatic islet [5-9]. Diabetogenic effect of alloxan resulted from the destruction of β cell caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Alloxan generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a cyclic redox reaction, with its reduction product, dialuric acid. Alloxan also selectively inhibits glucose- induced insulin secretion through its ability to inhibit the beta cell glucose sensor glucokinase [10-11]. The present study was designed to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Annona muricata leaf ethanol extract (AMLEE) in an experimental model of diabetes alloxan rats. This study also investigated phytochemical analysis and improvement in the islet of Langerhans. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material Annona muricata leaves were collected from Cimahi, West Java, Indonesia. The plant was identified by the Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Chemicals Alloxan was obtained from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, MO). All other chemicals and solvents are of analytical grade. Preparation of Annona muricata L. leaf ethanol extract (AMLEE) Annona muricata fresh leaves were air-dried at room temperature for four weeks. Two kilograms of the air-dried leaves of the plant was milled into fine powder. The powdered leaf was macerated in ethanol and extracted twice, on each occasion with 5 l of 70% ethanol at room temperature for 48 h. The combined ethanol extract was concentrated in a rotary evaporator (Buchi Rotavapor R200) [6]. Phytochemical screening Chemical tests were carried out on Annona muricata L. leaf ethanol extract for the qualitative determination of phytochemical constituents as per standard procedures [13]. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 9, Issue 3, 2017