Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Acroptilon repens has antioxidant properties, so in this experimental study, the antidiabetic and anti-lipid peroxidative properties of its extract were investigated.

Materials and Methods: Type I diabetes was induced in male rats by the injection of 60 mg/kg, i.p, of streptozotocin. After one week, diabetes was confirmed in rats if fasting blood glucose level was above 250 mg/dl. Diabetic rats were divided into 3 groups received 300 mg/kg extract, distilled water (0.5 mL) by gavage and 4 U/Rat, i.m. of insulin for 14 days, respectively. Two groups of normal rats also received the same dose of extract and distilled water individually for 14 days. After treatments, rats were sacrificed and serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), creatinine, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Also, red blood cell samples (RBCs) were used for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) level as lipid peroxidation marker.

Results: Administration of A. repens extract in diabetic rats for 14 days had no significant antihyperglycemic effect (p=0.910), but decreased serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, ALT, AST, creatinine and increased HDL level (p=0.05) also, MDA level in diabetic rats treated with extract significantly decreased (p=0.002) in comparison with diabetic ones. There was no difference in serum levels of the above factors in normal animals treated with the extract in comparison with normal control rats.

Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic extract of A. repens exerted antihyperlipidemic and anti-lipid peroxidative properties in diabetic rats with no adverse effects on liver and kidney function indicators. However, administration of this extract for remedy purposes need more studies.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Medicinal plants, Malondialdehyde, Rat

Funding: This study was partially funded by Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman approved the study.

How to cite this article: Nohtani F, Pouraboli I. Antidiabetic and Anti-lipid Peroxidative Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Acroptilon repens in male Rats. J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2016 14(10): 841-52. [Farsi]