Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of hydroalcohol extract of lemon (Citrus limon) peel on a rat model of type 2 diabetes

Juan Lv¹, Lanxiu Cao², Min Li¹, Rui Zhang³, Fu Bai¹, Pengfei Wei⁴

¹Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine; ²Department of Prescription, Basic Medical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046; ³Department of Diabetes, Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; ⁴Department of Radiotherapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712000, China.

For correspondence:- Lanxiu Cao Email:

Accepted: 25 June 2018 Published: 28 July 2018

Citation: Lv J, Cao L, Li M, Zhang R, Bai F, Wei P. Effect of hydroalcohol extract of lemon (Citrus limon) peel on a rat model of type 2 diabetes. Trop J Pharm Res 2018; 17(7):1367-1372 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v17i7.20

© 2018 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of the hydroalcohol extract of lemon peel (LP) on a rat model of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Method: The rat model of T2D by injection of streptozotocin was established. The effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of LP was characterised on a rat model of type 2 diabetes based on body weight, food intake, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose tolerance test, and insulin tolerance test. Antioxidant activity and oxidative stress were analysed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) assays.

Results: In acute toxicity studies, administration of LP extract at 2000 mg/kg orally did not cause any symptoms of poisoning or death after 14 days. The body weight of rats increased after treatment with LP extracts. Food intake in diabetic rats decreased with LP extract treatment. Continual treatment with LP extracts for 35 days significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. Glucose tolerance improved, and insulin resistance was reduced after treatment with LP extracts. SOD and MDA data indicate that treatment with LP extract alleviated the oxidative stress in diabetic rats as well as enhanced the antioxidant activity of liver in a dosage-dependent manner.

Conclusion: LP extract decreased food intake and FBG, but increased body weight in rats. The effect of LP on T2D is likely related to improved antioxidant activity and reduced oxidative stress. Thus, LP extract has potentials for the treatment of T2D.

Keywords: Lemon peel, Type 2 diabetes, Antioxidant activity, Glucose tolerance, Insulin tolerance