Effect of the aqueous extract of the Debarked roots of Rauvolfia vomitoria (EARv) AFZEL (Apocynaceae) a plant with antidiabetic potential on the lipid profile following daily administration for six months in albino Wistar rats

Diabetes, considered a major global public health issue, is often associated with dyslipidemia. Given the limitations of conventional treatments, people are showing increasing interest in medicinal plants. Thus, Rauvolfia vomitoria has several pharmacological properties, including antihypertensive and potentially antidiabetic effects. This study aims to evaluate the effect of repeated oral administration of EARv on the lipid profile over a six-month treatment period. Rauvolfia vomitoria roots were harvested, stripped of their bark, and then processed into an aqueous extract by maceration. Eighty healthy rats were divided into four groups (T, A, B, C) of 20 rats each, with 10 males and 10 females per group. Rats in group T received distilled water, while those in groups A, B, and C received EARv extract at doses of 500, 700 mg/kg body weight (b.w), and 1,000 mg/kg b. w, respectively, administered orally for six months at a rate of 2 mL/100 g b.w daily. Using serum from blood samples collected to measure total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. The results show that the aqueous extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria significantly reduced total cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent manner; it also led to an increase in HDL cholesterol levels and a significant reduction in triglycerides. EARv could represent an interesting therapeutic alternative for the management of diabetes and its metabolic complications. Keywords : Aqueous extract of debarked roots- Rauvolfia vomitoria- Lipid profile-Cholesterols -Triglycerides