Hypoglycemic Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Carum carvi L. Seeds in Normal and Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Herbal medicine has been used for many years by different cultures around the world for the treatment of diabetes. The hypoglycemic effect of caraway ethanolic extract (Carum carvi L.) was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Intraperitoneal administration of caraway ethanolic extract seeds (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/kg body wt.) on the level of serum glucose and insulin in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were evaluated. Before administration and 1, 3 and 5 h after administrations of the ethanolic extract, blood samples were drawn from the retro-orbital sinus. Serum glucose and insulin levels were determined. The results showed that the caraway ethanolic extract seeds at doses 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/kg body wt. significantly decreased serum glucose and insulin in diabetic rats in 3 and 5 h but not in healthy rats. It could be proofed that the traditional use of caraway as a hypoglycemic agent is justified and that extract from this plant show a dose-dependent hypoglycemic activity.