Evaluation of the Preventive and Therapeutic Activities of <i>Tridax procumbens</i>against Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia Induced in Wistar Rats

From the Asteraceaes family, Tridax procumbens is a wild species frequently found in fields, meadows and roadsides. It is traditionally used to treat yellow fever, typhoid fever, high blood pressure and diabetes. In this work we used the hydro-ethanolic extract of the leaves and stems of the plant and also the fractions of this extract to determine the preventive and therapeutic activities of the plant against obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. The yields of the fractions obtained by decantation of the hydro-ethanolic extract are respectively 0.160% with hexane, 0.073% with dichloromethane, 0.09% with diethyl ether and 0.150% with ethyl acetate. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia were induced in the rats submitted to a fatty and sweet diet for 28 days. Our results showed a significant increase in glycemia, weight and triglyceride level in rats that were subjected to the diet. On the other hand, the rats treated with the dose of 500 mg/kg of body weight of Tridax procumbens extract during the induction showed a reduction in weight gain and an absence of increase in blood sugar and triglyceride levels. The ethyl acetate fraction of Tridax procumbens extract administered to fatty and hyperglycemic rats at 50 mg/kg of body weight for 14 days did not induce change in the blood sugar and triglycerides level of fatty and hyperglycemic rats. If it seems obvious that the extract of Tridax procumbens prevents hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, the ethyl acetate fraction does not seem to have a therapeutic effect.