Changes of lipid profiles, glucose, and hemogram after administration of Ruta graveolens extract in diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects millions of people in the world. Many people use therapeutic herbal medicine for many reasons. In the present study, the effects of Ruta graveolens extract on the level of blood glucose, lipids, and hematological parameters have been studied. For this purpose 30 adult male Wistar rats weighing (200–300 g) were divided randomly into six groups (A, B, C, D, E, and F) and housed in single cages. The control group (A) was injected with normal saline. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.) in other five groups. Group C received glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) orally, and groups D, E, and F received hydroalcoholic extract of R. graveolens (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days, respectively. Blood samples were taken by heart puncture, and the level of glucose and lipids were measured. Hematological parameters including complete blood count was also determined by using automated cell counter. Results showed that administration of R. graveolens extract caused a significant decrease in the levels of cholesterol and LDL-c (p < 0.05) by dose-dependent manner, whereas no significant changes were seen in glucose, triglycerides, VLDL-c, and HDL-c values in diabetic rats. It appears that R. graveolens extract has significant effects on total cholesterol and LDL-c in diabetic rats