Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

  Background and Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus is a major endocrine disorder and growing health problem in most of countries. Avicennia marina is a type of mangrove plants which can grows in the Iranian coastal areas of Persian Gulf. We studied the effects of Avicennia marina leaves aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract on streptozotocin -induced diabetic male rats.

  Material and Methods : In this experimental study, 45 male rats were randomly divided into nine groups of five. Control animals were fed with a normal diet. The test groups received intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin for induction of diabetes. The diabetic groups were further subgrouped into diabetes, diabetic control (given 0.9% normal saline) and 6 groups treated orally with aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract of Avicennia marina leaves (30, 60, 120 mg/kg daily for three consecutive days). Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, blood samples were collected from heart for determining the blood glucose and insulin concentration levels using glucose oxidase and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods respectively.

  Results: Our results indicated that aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Avicennia marina leaves could decrease the mean blood glucose of diabetic test rats compared to diabetic control group (from 293.8±10.88 to 131.4±2.97 vs 139±1.92 respectively). Also, a significant increase in the serum insulin levels with no increase in the final body weights was found in the former group. No toxic effects of leaves extract was observed after 2 days of treatment.

  Conclusions: In this study, we have shown that Avicennia marina leaves extract can significantly decrease the blood glucose level.

  Key words: Avicennia Marina, Diabete, Blood glucose, Insulin

  Funding: This research were supported by Diabetes and Physiology Research Center of Ahwaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University, Kazeroun Branch.

  Conflict of interest: None declared.

  Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Kazeroun Branch approved the study.

 How to cite this article : Fathi Moghaddam H, Mokhtari M, Kamaei L, Ahangarpour A . Effects of Avicennia Marina Leaves Aqueous and Hydro Alcoholic Extract on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats . J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2012 10(4): 245-54. [Farsi]