Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious chronic metabolic disorder. Various diseases are being treated with medicinal plants and that is because of the less side effects of the current therapy. The diversity of plants in Armenia is due to the singularity of natural environment. However, biochemical activity of these plants has not been studied well. Thus, the goal was to investigate biochemical activity and antihyperglycemic properties of Rumex obtusifolius L. in rabbits with hyperglycemia. The high content of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins has been determined in this plant extract. Oral administration of ethanol extract showed significant effect on hyperglycemia, reducing fasting glucose levels (57.3%, p<0.05), improving glucose tolerance, and increasing liver glycogen content (1.5-fold, p<0.01) compared to the hyperglycemic control group. Furthermore, ethanol extract of R. obtusifolius reduced total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and vice versa increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and also decreased liver enzymes levels (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) compared with untreated group. These findings suggest that R. obtusifolius may have beneficial effects and should be supplement, as herbal remedy in the treatment of DM.
Highlights
Hyperglycemia is a metabolic disorder of the endocrine system characterized by abnormal glucose metabolism which is demonstrated by high blood sugar, hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease due to the disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism resulting from insulin resistant and β-cell dysfunction [1,2,3]
It should be noted that there is no literature data about phytochemical composition of Rumex obtusifolius (RO) extracts; it is well known that plants of the genus are abandoned with anthraquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, and carotenoids [10]; detailed phytochemical analysis will be done in the following study
In the current study we found a positive effect of the ethanol extract of RO seeds on blood glucose levels, lipid parameters, liver function enzymes (ALT, Aspartate aminotransferase area under the curve (AUC) (AST)), glycogen content, and body weights in hyperglycemia induced by immobilization stress in rabbits for 21 days
Summary
Hyperglycemia is a metabolic disorder of the endocrine system characterized by abnormal glucose metabolism which is demonstrated by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease due to the disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism resulting from insulin resistant and β-cell dysfunction [1,2,3]. Immobilization stress can increase the blood glucose levels and the risk of cardiovascular diseases due to impaired endothelial function. Chronic immobilization stress leads to atherosclerosis, which has an endothelial dysfunction at early stages [7]. Durable immobilization can contribute to the formation of unstable atherosclerotic lesions as a result of immune system cells accumulation and molecules adhesion, leading to thrombosis and cardiac complications [7, 8]
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