Hypoglycemic effect of two mixtures of plant extracts on diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

Seeds of eight plant extracts, widely grown in Egypt were assessed for their hypoglycemic action on diabetic rats. Mixture [I] composed of Trigonella foenurn [Hulba], Lupinis albus [Termis], Gernum robertianum [Dahrnia], Ambrosia maritima [Damsisa] and Aloe ferox [Sabir], [5g each]. Mixture [II] composed of Nigella sativa [Habet el-baraka], Peganum harmala [Harmal] and Centaur/urn spicatum [Hashishet el-acrab], [5 g each]. Each mixture was extracted separately with boiled distilled water, then 2 ml from each extracted mixture were administrated, separately to the diabetic rats for 10 days [two days intervals]. The physiological capability of each extract was demonstrated, including the estimation of blood glucose, urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, insulin levels, beside liver protein content and hexokinase activity. The results revealed that the extract of mixture [I] exerted hypoglycemic and hyperinsulinemic effects on diabetic rats, meanwhile the extract of mixture [II] exerted hypoglycemic effect on the diabetic rats with no effect on the insulin level