Effect of ethanol/water extract of Crinum jagus on glycemia, lipids parameters and body weight gain on high-sugar diet fed rats

Crinum jagus is used in Cameroon western region folk medicine in the management of diabetes and obesity. The effects of ethanol/water extract of C. jagus were evaluated on two month old Wistar rats submitted to a high sugar diet (HSD). HSD fed rats were treated with 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg bw of extract during 40 days. The C. jagus effects were investigated on the evolution of weight, fasting glycemia, food and water intakes, lipids parameters: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL and LDL cholesterol, visceral and peritesticular fat. The C. jagus extract 150 and 300 mg/kg bw significantly reduced fasting glycemia: -17.78% (p< 0.01) and -13.84% (p< 0.05) respectively. 75 and 150 mg/kg extract significantly (p< 0.01) reduced the serum level of TC (-67.84%, -45.33%); TG (-13.41%, -45.82%) and increased seric HDL-cholesterol (-11.58% and -25.15%). These effects let to the decrease of LDL-cholesterol (-94.35%, -59.36%) and atherogenic index (-67.92%, -45.37%). The C. jagus extract equally decreased visceral fat, body weight gain and food intake. The results indicated that ethanol/water Crinum jagus extract could have hypoglycemic activity and could improve cardiovascular risk factors, body weight gain and obesity, thus justifying its traditional use in the management of diabetes and obesity. Key-words: Crinum jagus, glycemia, cardiovascular risks, high-sugar diet