Comaparative study of the antidiabetic and biochemical effects of metformin, glibenclamide and repaglinide in alloxan- induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major global health burden affecting both developed and developing countries. This study examined the antidiabetic effects of metformin (MET), glibenclamide (GLI) and repaglinide (REP) on biochemical parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The study will assess the efficacy of these standard drugs in managing the complications arising from diabetes mellitus. Alloxan (130 mg/kg BW) was administered as a single dose to induce diabetes. Four (4) groups of rats (n=6) were used; group 1 served as diabetic control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were the diabetic test groups that received MET (25 mg/kg), GLI (2.5 mg/kg) and REP (0.5 mg/kg) respectively. The effects of these agents on blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) concentrations were determined. Also, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine phosphatase (ALP) activities were assayed. The results showed that the blood glucose concentration of diabetic rats treated with MET, GLI and REP were significantly (p<0.05) reduced compared with the diabetic control. Serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) reduced while high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the treated diabetic rats compared with the diabetic control. Also, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine phosphatase activities were markedly (p<0.05) reduced compared with the diabetic control group. Findings from this study suggest that the administration of MET, GLI and REP exhibited significant reductions in the blood glucose concentrations; hence, significant improvement in the biochemical parameters altered during diabetic associated manifestations.