Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Glaucium flavum Crantz on Thyroid Hormones in Alloxan Diabetic Rats

Thyroid dysfunction is one of the controversial complications of diabetes. Given the hypoglycemic properties of Yellow Horne Poppy (YHP), this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral administration of aqua-ethanolic extract of YHP and glibenclamide on serum level of T3 and T4 hormones in alloxan diabetic rats compared to healthy rats. In this experimental study, 56 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups of 8, including healthy control, healthy treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg of YHP extract, diabetic control, diabetic treated with 250 and 500mg/kg of YPH extract and diabetic treated with 5μg/kg of glibenclamide. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of alloxan. After 30 days of treatment, blood samples were collected and the concentration of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 were measured. Finally, the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The serum concentrations of thyroid hormones were significantly lower in the diabetic control group than those in the control group (P<0.001). The mean concentration of T3 was significantly higher in the diabetic+250 extract than that in the diabetic control group (P<0.001). Also, the mean concentration of T4 was significantly higher in the diabetic+250 extract than that in the diabetic+drug group (P=0.04). YPH extract can effectively improve T3 and T4 serum levels in diabetic rats. Further studies are required to determine the active ingredient responsible for this therapeutic effect, such as Glaucin.