Antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) oil in streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced diabetic male rats: Biochemical and histopathological evaluation

Abstract. Nurudeen QO, Abdulkadir S, Jamiu SM, Abah MA, Ugwah EJ. 2025. Antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) oil in streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced diabetic male rats: Biochemical and histopathological evaluation. Cell Biol Dev 9: 64-70. This study investigated the antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) essential oil in male rats with streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced diabetes. Forty-two rats were randomly assigned to seven groups (n=6): non-diabetic control, diabetic control, diabetic + metformin (150 mg/kg), and diabetic + lemongrass oil at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) 15 minutes after nicotinamide (120 mg/kg), followed by 28 days of oral treatment. Parameters assessed included fasting blood glucose, body weight, and key biochemical markers—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)—along with histological evaluation of liver tissue. Treatment with lemongrass oil significantly lowered fasting blood glucose and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity in diabetic rats, with the 100 mg/kg dose showing effects comparable to metformin. Histopathological analysis confirmed improvements in hepatic structure and reduced degenerative changes. These findings indicate that C. citratus essential oil exhibits notable antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects, likely mediated through its antioxidant properties, and may serve as a promising adjunct in diabetes therapy.