Abstract
Background: Diabetes, as a common chronic disorder, is the seventh leading cause of death in the world. This disorder is classified into two major types: type I and type II diabetes mellitus. Recently, researchers have identified a higher level of inflammatory cytokines in patients with type II diabetes, compared to the normal population. Today, plant-based therapies, given their anti-diabetic properties, have attracted the researchers’ attention. One of the medicinal plants with anti-diabetic effects is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain how stevioside, as a derivative of Stevia rebaudiana, can cause such a significant decline in blood glucose level. To the best of our knowledge, the exact anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of the aquatic extract of stevia are not fully understood. Therefore, the current research aimed to evaluate whether stevia can improve the interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Methods: In the present study, a cohort of rats was divided into five groups, each containing 11 rats: (1) normoglycemic group, receiving 1 mL of water; (2) diabetic control group, receiving 1 mL of water; (3) and (4) diabetic groups treated with the aquatic extracts of stevia (400 mg/kg) and metformin (500 mg/kg), respectively; and (5) healthy group treated with the aquatic extract of stevia (400 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected from the heart for evaluating serum IL-6 changes. Statistical analysis was performed, using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the least significant difference (LSD) post-hoc multiple comparison test. Results: The present results showed that IL-6 (P = 0.001) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) (P < 0.001) levels significantly increased in all diabetic groups, compared to healthy rats. Surprisingly, treatment with stevia could significantly reduce FBS (P < 0.001), as well as IL-6 level (P = 0.001) in comparison with the diabetic group. Conclusions: Based on the findings, inflammation can be ameliorated with the whole aquatic extract of stevia, as an anti-diabetic compound. Therefore, by considering IL-6 level as an indicator of insulin resistance, stevia can lead to a decline in IL-6 level and thereby reduce insulin resistance in diabetic patients.
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