Antidiabetic activity of Cichorium intybus L water extract against streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetic mellitus is a chronic, incurable metabolism disorder caused by the lack of secretion of insulin by the pancreas. Currently, several plants are used for the treatment of diabetic mellitus. Cichorium intybus (C. intybus) is one of the medicinal plants used traditionally by Asian people to treat diabetics. In this regard, the aim of the work is to prepare different selected plant crude extracts and determine them for in vivo diabetic activity against streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. At first, the plant leaves powder was defatted with petroleum spirit. Then the defatted powder was extracted by water with a ratio of 1:8 for 48 h using the maceration method. The water was evaporated by using a rotary evaporator. The aqueous extract of the selected plant was administered orally (100 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg) at intervals of 0, 2, 4 and 6 h compared to glibenclamide (3 mg/kg) and to measure blood glucose level by using a glucometer. The results showed that the blood glucose level decreased gradually with the increase of the time intervals. In addition, the blood glucose decreasing rate was increased with the applied dose increased. In conclusion, the selected plant water crude extract could be used to decrease the blood glucose level.