ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder of endocrine glands worldwide. Caper as a medicinal plant has anti-oxidant properties and has been used traditionally to cure diabetes. The aim of present research was to evaluate the effect of 200 and 800 mg/kg of caper fruit extract on blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin and lipid profile in diabetic and normal male rats. In this experimental study 60 rats were divided into 6 groups randomly, in which three diabetic groups received distilled water [control] and 200 and 800 mg/kg caper fruit extract respectively and three normal groups were treated as diabetic groups. The animals were received orally either water or fruit extract by gavages for 28 days. To measure the level of blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid profile, blood samples of animals were collected at the beginning and the end of experiment and p<0.05 was considered as significant. The blood sugar decreased in all groups receiving fruit extract compare to control groups and the decrease in blood sugar was dose dependent. Blood triglycerides decreased in all diabetic groups receiving extract compare to control but in normal rats the changes were not significant. The changes in glycated hemoglobin was not significant. Other blood metabolites that were measured in the present study were not changed significantly. The results of present study showed that consumption of Caper fruit extract lead to a significant decrease in blood sugar and also a considerable decrease in blood triglycerides in diabetic rats, therefore it seems that Caper fruit consumption may has beneficial effects on blood sugar and lipid profile