Anti Hyperglycemic and Anti Hyperlipidemic Activity of Linum usitatissimum and Glycyrrhiza glabra Extracts in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: The purpose of the present experimental study was to assess the antihyperglycemic activity of ethanolic extract of Linum usitatissimum seeds and Glycyrrhiza glabra roots with standard drugs metformin and glimepiride in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats model.

Materials and Methods: Total 42 Wistar albino rats were utilized in this study which separated into seven groups with six animals in each group. Negative controls for normal base line reading and was not induced with diabetes were administered 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl). and positive control i.e. in which diabetes was induced with streptozotocin were administered 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl). Other three groups were given metformin 10 mg/kg body weight (bw), glimepride 0.1 mg/kg bw and rosuvastatin 10 mg/kg/day bw as standard treatment , whereas in last two groups, ethanolic extract of L. usitatissimum seeds and G. glabra roots in combinations of 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg were given respectively as experimental drugs. These drugs were given to all groups except negative control for 28 days after induction of diabetes with streptozotcin. At the end of the study, FBS, lipid concentration, insulin, HbA1c and serum amylase levels were evaluated.

Results: Both doses of L. usitatissimum and G. glabra extracts showed significant (p<0.001) decrease in FBS of diabetic rats. Especially L. usitatissimum and G. glabra in the combination dose of 400 mg/kg b.w showed more potency in decreasing blood glucose levels in comparison with anti-diabetic drug glimepride at the end of the experiment. All extracts showed a noteworthy decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C, HbA1c, insulin and serum amylase levels with improved HDL-C levels in diabetic rats compared with positive control.

Conclusions: This study indicates that the combination of both L. usitatissimum and G. glabra extracts have antihyperglycemic and anti hyperlipidemic effects in diabetic rats which might be useful for the search of dietary supplements inefficient management of Type-2 diabetes mellitus.