Effectiveness of different extracts of cocoa powder on plasma glucose and lipid profile in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus rats.

The use of different solvents to extract plant materials is to obtain component of utmost activity for the management of various disease conditions. Cocoa powder was subjected to different menstruum (aqueous, ethanol, n-hexane and chloroform) to remove inert materials and obtain pure active components whose effect was determined. Diabetes was induced in forty female Albino rats divided randomly into five groups, each consisting of eight rats, using 120mg/kg body weight alloxan. Different extracts of the powder were administered orally for twenty one days at a dose of 200mg/kg each except in the diabetic untreated group. Fasting blood sample was collected from the tail vein daily to determine the blood glucose concentration. On 22nd day, fasting blood samples were collected from all the rats for lipid profile estimation. Results showed a significant decrease (P