Preventive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Carthamus tinctorius petal in appearance of type 1-diabetes mellitus in adult male rats

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion، insulin action or both. Carthamus tinctorius (Compositae) has been used in Iranian traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes. In this study the blood glucose lowering effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Carthamus tinctorius petals was investigated in male Wistar rats. In this research 18 male white Wistar rats، with body weights of 180 – 220 g were randomly allocated into three groups with six rats per group: group1، nondiabetic control; group2، diabetic control; group 3، prevention group. In order to induce diabetes، alloxan was administered as a single dose (120 mgkg-1 BW)، intraperitoneally. In 2 and 3 groups to induce diabetes، alloxan was administered as a single dose (120 mgkg-1 BW)، intraperitoneally. At the initial and the end of 2 and 6 weeks of experimental period، rats were fasted for 16h، and then fasting blood samples were collected in tubes with heparin for estimation of blood glucose and others factors levels. Blood was collected from the orbital sinus. The results indicated significant reduction in serum glucose level in the group 3 (P<0. 05). Histological studies of the pancreas of this animals، demonstrated this results. This results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Carthamus tinctorius effect on preventive of diabetes. The effect of this extract can be due to the presence of flavonoides and their antioxidant effects.