Effects of Avicennia Marina Leaves Aqueous and Hydro Alcoholic Extract on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Diabetes Mellitus is a major endocrine disorder and growing health problem in most of countries. Avicennia marina is a type of mangrove plants which can grows in the Iranian coastal areas of Persian Gulf. We studied the effects of Avicennia marina leaves aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract on streptozotocin -induced diabetic male rats.

In this experimental study, 45 male rats were randomly divided into nine groups of five. Control animals were fed with a normal diet. The test groups received intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin for induction of diabetes. The diabetic groups were further subgrouped into; diabetes, diabetic control (given 0.9% normal saline) and 6 groups treated orally with aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract of Avicennia marina leaves (30, 60, 120 mg/kg daily for three consecutive days). Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, blood samples were collected from heart for determining the blood glucose and insulin concentration levels using glucose oxidase and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods respectively.

Our results indicated that aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Avicennia marina leaves could decrease the mean blood glucose of diabetic test rats compared to diabetic control group (from 293.8±10.88 to 131.4±2.97 vs 139±1.92 respectively). Also, a significant increase in the serum insulin levels with no increase in the final body weights was found in the former group. No toxic effects of leaves extract was observed after 2 days of treatment.

In this study, we have shown that Avicennia marina leaves extract can significantly decrease the blood glucose level.