Biological activities of vitex agnus-castus (I.)‎ leaves in diabetes control in high fat high fructose fed female rats

الملخص EN

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect Vitex agnus castus leaves on oxidative stress, glucose level and lipid profile in rats fed on high fat high fructose (HF/HFr) diet.

The phenolic content as well as the antioxidant activity of the vitex leaves extract was analyzed.

Rats were divided into four groups, group I received basal diet (control), group II received basal diet containing 20 g vitex leaves /kg., groups III received high fructose high fat diet and group IV.

Received high fructose high fat diet containing 20 g vitex powder /kg diet.

After 6 weeks, body weight, BMI, blood glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-index, lipid profile, leptin, resistin, TNF-a, total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant capacity were analyzed in the study male rats.

Results showed high phenolic content as well as antioxidant activity of the vitex leaves extract.

Vitex leaves showed significant decrease in blood glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-index, leptin, resistin, TNF-a, total oxidant capacity while increasing the total antioxidant capacity in addition to lipid profile normalization in group IV that received high fructose high fat diet containing 20 g vitex powder /kg diet as compared to high fructose high fat diet group (group III).

It can be concluded that consumption of vitex leaves can improve the lipid profile, reduce insulin resistance, blood glucose level and inflammatory cytokines as well as it can protect the body from the oxidative stress, related to their phenolic compounds.

Thus, vitex leaves consumption has a beneficial effect in control and management of diabetes and diabetes associated complications with no risk of hypoglycemic effect.