Comparative Effect of Daily Administration of Allium sativum and Allium cepa Extracts on Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Effective regulation of blood glucose level is the most important factor for reducing risks of diabetic complications and this must be done without any side effects or interference with normal physiological function of the body which is not usually achievable with the conventional diabetic drugs. This has resulted in the current shift to the use of herbal preparation which is presumed to be effective, cheap with no side effects. Most noted among these are onion and garlic. This present study was therefore conducted to compare the effects of daily administration of garlic and onion extracts on alloxan induced diabetic rat. Diabetes was induced in Female Wister rats weighing 150-200g by intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight).Diabetes was confirmed after seven days in rats showing fasting blood glucose levels ≥ 200mg/dl. The diabetic rats were randomly allocated into three experimental groups which received garlic extract, onion extract or normal saline depending on the group. The extracts were administered orally for six weeks after which the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for Biochemical analyses. From the results obtained it can be concluded that the extracts of fresh Allium sativum and Allium cepa significantly reduced the serum glucose with Allium sativum extract proving to be more potent while no significant difference was shown in their nephro- and hepato-protective activities. Keyword: alloxan, diabetes, Garlic, herbal preparation, Onion