The effect of feeding of aerial part of Allium latifolium on blood glucose and lipids in diabetic rats

Use of medicinal plants for attenuation of hyperglycemia and restoration of lipids to normal level is clinically important. In this respect, there are evidences for antidiabetic potential of derivatives of Allium latifolium (AL). Therefore, the effect of chronic oral administration of this plant on serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and HDL- and LDL-cholesterol level of diabetic rats was investigated. For this purpose, male Wistar rats (n = 32) were randomly divided into 4 control, AL-treated control, diabetic, and AL-treated diabetic groups. The treatment groups received oral administration of plant-mixed pelleted food (6.25%) for 6 weeks. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL- cholesterol levels were determined before the study, and at 3rd and 6th weeks after the study. Serum glucose level in diabetic group increased 6 weeks after the experiment as compared to data one week before the study (p<0.001) and AL treatment of diabetic rats did have a significant hypoglycemic effect (p<0.01). In addition, triglyceride level in diabetic group increased 6 weeks after the experiment in comparison with related data one week before the study (P<0.05) and there was no significant change in this parameter in AL-treated diabetic rats.. Furthermore, a similar significant reduction was obtained for treated-diabetic group as compared to diabetic group regarding serum cholesterol level (p<0.05). On the other hand, HDL- and LDL- cholesterol levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) and lower (p<0.01) in AL-treated diabetic group as compared to untreated diabetic group respectively. Therefore, oral chronic administration of AL has a significant moderate hypoglycemic effect and leads to appropriate changes in total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels.