Investigation of the hypoglycemic effect of tribulus terrestris extract on diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

Tribulus terrestris L. is a traditional herbal medicine used for treatment of hypertension, urinary tract inflammation, kidney and bladder stones. The present study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of Tribulus terrestris [T.T.] fruit extract on rat blood glucose at acute and chronic phases compered with glibenclamide as the standard hypoglycemic drug. 60 wistar male rats with 200-250 gr weight were selected and caged in same environmental condition. Diabetes was induced by 50mg/kg streptozocin intraperitoneal [ip] injection. After 15 days the rats with fasting blood sugar [FBS] above 200mg/dl were selected and divided into 10 groups of 6 rats each. The T.T. fruit extract in doses of 15, 30, 60, 150, 250, 500, 750, 1000 mg/kg for acute phase and 500, 750, 1000 mg/kg for chronic phase were selected for ip injected. FBG and 2 hour post prandial blood sugar [2hrPPBS] were determined every 20 days during 2 month of the study and fasting blood insulin were determined at the end of the study. The results of this study indicate that in 750 and l000mg/kg doses of T.T. fruit extract groups FBS and 2hrPPBS reduced significantly [p=0.000] compere to glibenclamide group. T.T. fruit extract at the doses of 750 and l000mg/kg has antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic rats