Present study was designed to examine the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of Centella asiatica ethanolic leaves extract on cadmium chloride treated albino rats. Administration of cadmium chloride (5 mg/kg body weight) in rats caused an increase in the glucose, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids. A decrease in the HDL was also found in cadmium chloride treated group. Various concentrations of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract or silymarin (50 mg/kg body weight) as a pre-treatment were administered for 30 days to rats treated with cadmium chloride. The levels of all the above parameters were restored to near normal levels in rats. The effectiveness of the treatment was concentration dependent and effective concentration of ethanolic leaves extract was found to be 80 mg/kg bw. At this concentration, the extract’s protective effect was comparatively similar to silymarin and can help restore disparities in cadmium treated rats to near normal levels.
