The hypoglycemic effect of some medicinal plants in normal and experimentally induced diabetic rabbits

Abstract EN

Alloxan (180mg / Kg] I.V is an effective diabetogenic agent that induces diabetes mellitus in rabbits.

Ninety healthy male rabbits were involved in this study.

The plasma glucose levels were measured in normal and in diabetic rabbits after giving alloxan and following the administration of glibenclamide, insulin and the aqueous extract of medicinal plants.

Insulin (2IU / Kg] S.C produced a significant reduction in plasma glucose levels in diabetic rabbits (b= -3.87 P< 0.001].

In the meantime, the aqueous extract of Cinnamomumverum, Nigella sativa and Oleo Europe at a single dose of 0.5g / Kg orally caused a significant lowering of plasma glucose levels in diabetic rabbits with b=(-2.38], (-2.34 ] and (-1.17] respectively (P< 0.05], whereas the aqueous extract of both Capparis spinos and Corundum sativum at the same dose produced non-significant decrease in plasma glucose levels of diabetic rabbits with b= (-0.86] and (-0.98] respectively (P> 0.05].

The aqueous extract of medicinal plants significantly decreased the plasma glucose levels in normal rabbits except with Capparis spinos; whereas glibenclamide insignificantly reduced the plasma glucose levels in diabetic rabbits.