Hypolipidemic and Antiatherogenic Effects of Satureja Khozestanica Essential Oil in Alloxan-Induced Type 1 Diabetic Rats

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing around the world. Oxidative stress is one of the risk factors in diabetes. The purpose of this study is to examine the protective effects of the essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica on the level of serum lipids and atherogenic indices in the male rats with diabetes. This experimental study was conducted on thirty male rats randomly divided into three groups including: 1- control group, 2- rats with untreated diabetes 3- rats with treated diabetes (through orally intake of water containing 500 ppm of the essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica). The second and third groups also developed diabetes through injection of alloxan tetrahydrate (120 mg/kg). After eight weeks of treatment, their blood sample was taken, and then the levels of glucose, lipids and atherogenic indices of the serum were measured. The levels of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and atherogenic indices of plasma in treated diabetic group were significantly decreased. The amount of high density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly increased in the treated group. The results obtained from this study showed that the essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica has beneficial effects on the level of serum lipids and atherogenic indices of rats with type 1 diabetes.