hypoglycemic effect of volatile oil of some Egyptian plants

ABSTRACT

LD50 of some volatile oil of Anethum graveolens [common dill], Foeniculum vulgare [fennel], Artemisia herba-alba [wormseed plants] and Salvia officinalis [sage] were 1350, 1075, 937.5 and 1950 mg/kg b. wt., respectively, in mice following subcutaneous injection. The volatile oil extract of dill and fennel decreased the blood glucose level of normal rats at one hour. The volatile oil extract of dill and fennel decreased the blood glucose level of normal rats at one hour. While, that of sage and wormseed plants produced a significant hypoglycemia in rats at one and three hours. The higher blood glucose level of alloxan diabetic rats were significantly decreased at one and three hours after injection of the oily extract of dill, fennel, wormseed plants and sage. It is concluded that the volatile oil of common dill, fennel, wormseed plants and sage have an antidiabetic effect