Investigating the effects of aqueous extract of asafoetida resin on the serum level of insulin and blood glucose in type 1 diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is one of the most common endocrynological diseases. Todays, the trend in the treatment of diabetes by herbal medicines which have fewer side effects than chemical drugs has promoted. This study was performed to investigating the effects of extract of asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida) resin on the serum level of insulin and blood glucose in diabetic rats. In this experimental study, 28 rats were divided into four groups, the normal control, diabetic control, diabetic 1 (injection of insulin), diabetic 2 (injection of extract of Ferula assa-foetida’s resin). At the first, fifteenth and thirtieth days, insulin and blood glucose was measured. At first, fifteenth and thirtieth days, in the hyperglycemic groups, blood insulin increased and blood glucose increased in compared with normal control (P<0.05). At fifteenth day in diabetic groups 1 and 2, and at thirtieth day in diabetic group 2, respectively, was significantly increased and decreased in compared with diabetic control (P<0.05). Resin of Ferula assa-foetida lowered blood glucose. Probably synthesis and secretion of insulin and hyperplasia in the remaining pancreatic beta cells, was stimulated by resin of Ferula assa-foetida.