The effect of aqua-ethanolic extract of yellow horned poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz) on serum activity of hepatic enzymes and insulin concentration in diabetic male rats induced by alloxan

Glaucium flavum Crantz (Yellow Horned Poppy, YPH) is used to reduce complications of diabetes in Iranian folk medicine. This study was conducted to compare the effect of aqua-ethanolic extract of Yellow Horned Poppy and Glibenclamide on serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and insulin in diabetic rats induced by alloxan. In this experimental study, 40 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of eight: healthy control, healthy treated with 500mg/kg body weight (BW) of the YPH extract (healthy+YPH), diabetic control, diabetic treated with 500mg/kg BW of the extract (diabetic+YPH), diabetic treated with 5μg/kg BW of Glibenclamide (diabetic+ medicine). Diabetes was induced by injection of alloxan. After a month, blood samples were collected and serum levels of liver enzymes and insulin were also measured. Finally, the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test. The activity of AST and ALP enzymes in the diabetic+YPH group was significantly higher than that in the diabetic+drug group (P=0.04). Also, ALT activity and insulin concentration in diabetic+YPH group significantly increased compared to diabetic control group (P<0.001). The findings of this study reveal that oral administration of the YHP extract in addition to its hepatoprotective activity against diabetes-induced stress, can enhance serum insulin level.