Effects of an aqueous extract of Triticum repens on lipid metabolism in normal and recent-onset diabetic rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of single and repeated oral administration of the aqueous rhizomes extract of Triticum repens (TR) (20 mg/kg) on lipid metabolism in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In normal rats, the aqueous extract of TR induced a significant decrease in the plasma triglycerides concentrations 4 days ( P<0.05) and 1 week after repeated oral administration ( P<0.05). This reduction was abolished 2 weeks after once daily repeated oral administration. A significant decrease of plasma cholesterol levels was observed only 1 week ( P<0.05) after repeated oral administration. In diabetic rats, TR treatment caused a significant decrease in plasma triglycerides levels after a single ( P<0.01) and repeated ( P<0.001) oral administration. A strong decrease in cholesterol level was observed 6 h after a single oral administration of the aqueous extract TR ( P<0.001). Four days after repeated oral administration of TR aqueous extract, the plasma cholesterol level was significantly decreased ( P<0.05) and still dropped after 2 weeks ( P<0.001). On other hand, the repeated oral administration of aqueous TR extract caused a significant decrease in body weight 2 weeks after repeated oral treatment in diabetic rats ( P<0.05). We conclude that the aqueous extract of TR exhibits lipid and body weight lowering activities in severe hyperglycaemic rats after repeated oral administration of aqueous TR extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg.