[ effect of administration of apium graveolens aqeous extract on the serum levels of glucose and lipids of diabetic rats]

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic disorders, which is accompanied by debilitating complications in the long term. Considering the therapeutic significance of medicinal plants, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of i.p. intraperitonead administration of Apium graveolens on the serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels of diabetic rats. Twentyeight, female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, i.e. the control, AG-treated control, the diabetic, and AG-treated diabetic groups. The treatment groups received 200 mg/kg i.p. of the aqueous extract of the plant on alternate days for 4 weeks. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL- cholesterol levels were determined before the study, and two and four weeks after the study. Serum glucose levels in diabetic group increased 2 and 4 weeks after the experiment as compared to data obtained one week before the study [P<0.001]; AG treatment of diabetic rats did not have any significant effect. In addition, triglyceride levels in the diabetic group increased 4 weeks after the experiment in comparison to related data of one week before the study [P<0.05] and there was a significant lower level of triglyceride in AG-treated diabetic rats [p<0.01]. Furthermore, a similar significant reduction was obtained for the treateddiabetic group as compared to the diabetic group regarding serum cholesterol levels [p<0.05]. On the other hand, HDL- and LDL- cholesterol levels were significantly higher [p<0.05] and lower [p<0.01] in the AG-treated diabetic group as compared to the untreated diabetic group respectively. Although intraperitoneal administration of the aqueous extract of Apium graveolens has no significant hypoglycemic effect, it could possibly lead to appropriate changes in blood lipid profiles

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of chronic oral administration of aerial part of Marrubium vulgare in diabetic rats

Marrubium vulgare has preventing and antioxident components. There aresome evidence of hypoglicemic and hypolepidemic of this medicinal herb. This study was done to determine the hypoglycemic and the hypolipidemic activities of Marrubium vulgare in diabetic Rats. In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into control, treated control, diabetic, and treated diabetic groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin [STZ; 60 mg/Kg; i.p.] was used at a single dose. The treatment groups received oral administration of plant-mixed pelleted food [6.25%] for two months. Serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations. Were meuseud by spectrophotometer technique. Serum glucose level in diabetic group increases 4 and 8 weeks after the experiment as compared to data one week before the study began [P<0.05]. Marrubium vulgare treatment of diabetic rats did not any significant effect. In addition, triglyceride level in diabetic group increased 8 weeks after the experiment in comparison with related data one week before the study [P<0.05] and there was a significant lower level of triglyceride in Marrubium vulgare- treated diabetic rats [p<0.05]. Furthermore, a similar significant reduction was obtained for treated-diabetic group as compared to diabetic group regarding serum cholesterol level [p<0.05]. This study showed that oral administration of Marrubium vulgare in long-term could significantly reduce serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels without any effect on serum glucose in diabetic rats

Endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular effect of the flavonoid quercetin in thoracic aorta of diabetic rats

Quercetin is one of the most common forms of flavonoids in foodstuffs, which could have multiple beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system including an induction of vasorelaxation in conductance and resistive vessels. Due to changes in endothelial functionality in diabetes mellitus, there is an enhanced vascular responsiveness to contractile agonists. Therefore, the role of endothelium was evaluated in vasorelaxant effect of quercetin in diabetic rats. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were divided into control and diabetic groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin [60 mg/Kg, i.p.] was used. The body weight and serum glucose parameters were determined before and at 2nd and 4th after the experiment. Contractile responsiveness to KC1 and noreadrenalin [NA] and quercetin-induced vasorelaxation were measured at the end of study. After 4 weeks, quercetin [1 mM-10 mM] induced a dose-dependent vasorelaxation in aortic rings precontracted with KC1 and/or NA from both control and diabetic groups [p<0.01]. Furthermore, this vasorelaxation was significantly attenuated after endothelium removal and at higher concentrations of quercetin [>/= 0.5 and 5 mM for NA and KC1 respectively], this vasorelaxation was endothelium-independent. It can be concluded that the flavonoid quercetin exerts endothelium-dependent and -independent effects, and this response depends on flavonoid concentration