ABSTRACT
Adverse side effects of chemical drugs for treatment of diabetes persuaded the using of medical plants. Citrullus colocyn this is a plant which has been used traditionally for treatment of diabetes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroalcholic extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruit on normoglycemic and streptozocine induced diabetic rats. 45 male Wistar rats weighing, 250-350 gr, have been selected and randomly divided in seven groups. Group 1 without any drugs usage, group 2 that received normal saline [IV] and distilled water [oral], group 3 received only streptozocine [IV], group 4 received only the extract of Citrullus colocynth is [1000 mg/kg], groups 5, 6 and 7 received 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg of Citrullus colocynthis extract after injection of STZ and induction of diabetes. Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection [45 mg/kg] of STZ. Blood sampling was provided directly from animal heart and blood sugar was measured. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using students t-test and ANOVA. Mean of normal blood sugar in control group was 156.5 +/- 15.7 mg/dl which defined as normal blood sugar. Streptozocine significantly increased blood sugar [p<0.05]. The Citrullus colocynth is extract with 500 mg/kg dosage has not significantly reduced the blood sugar but is dosage of 1000 and 1500 mg/kg significantly decreased the blood sugar in a dosedependent mode [p<0.05]. also showed that the extract in dosage of 1000 mg/kg did not have a significant effect on normoglycemic animals. Results of this study indicate that the extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruit dose-dependently reduced the blood glucose level in streptozocine-induceddiabetic rats but did not have significant effect on normal blood sugar