Hypoglycemic and antioxidative effects of fenugreek and termis seeds powder in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

M. Marzouk, A.M. Soliman, T.Y. Omar

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt. soliman.amel5@gmail.com

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• Phytomedicine

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disease characterized by altered cellular metabolism. So, many traditional herbs are being used by diabetic patients to control this disease. In the present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the anti-diabetic and antioxidative effects of water suspension of Fenugreek (F), and Termis (T) seeds powder and their mixture (M) who were studied in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental diabetes was induced by injection a single dose of STZ (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Adult male albino rats were divided into five groups; normal control, diabetic control, diabetic-F supplement (1 g/kg b.wt.), diabetic-T supplement (1 g/kg b.wt.) and diabetic-M supplement 1 g/kg b.wt. of each seed powder concurrently for 30 days. Serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, activities of serum marker enzymes of liver function as well as liver and muscle glycogen content were measured. The oxidative stress was assessed by blood reduced glutathione (GSH) content and enzyme activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) in plasma.

RESULTS: The increase in serum glucose, total lipid, triglycerides, total cholesterol, AST, ALT, ALP and decreased insulin, plasma, GSH, GST, CAT, as well as liver and muscle glycogen content were the salient features recorded in diabetic control rats. The F, T and M supplements significantly reverted the levels of the studied metabolites and enzymes activities to near normal control values. Co-administration of F and T seeds powder was considered as an effective agent in modulating the alterations in total lipid, AST, ALT, GSH and muscle glycogen.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that F, T and M seeds powder supplementation may be beneficial for preventing diabetic complications in this animal model.

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