Prophylactic and curative effect of ginseng roots as hypoglycemic agent in albino rats

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to investigate the prophylactic and curative effect of ginseng roots on blood glucose level and evaluate the changes in the antioxidant activity in normal and diabetic rats. Forty eight albino rats weighing 130 +/- 10 g were used in two main experiments i.e. prophylactic and curative. Streptozotocin [STZ] was used to induce hyperglycemia. Korean ginseng roots were purchased from the Egyptian market. Some biochemical and antioxidant parameters were assessed. The obtained results indicated that ginseng roots possessed significant antidiabetic effects in both experiments. The levels of blood sugar, total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, rnalondialdehyde [MDA] and catalase were decreased while the levels of HDL-cholesterol and ascorbic acid were increased in the diabetic rats after treatment of ginseng roots. On the other hand, the level of reduced glutathjone [GSH] did not significantly change