Journals of

  Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a disease which has affected about 3 million people in Iran. For many years, the use of Phytotherapy in medicine has been common. In the present study, the effects of aqueous extract of Walnut leaves on blood glucose and serum lipids in diabetic rats were investigated.

  Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult male Wister rats (200-230g in weight) were chosen and randomly divided into three groups (experimental, diabetic control and healthy control). Diabetes was induced through the injection of stereptozotocin (60 mg/kg, IP) into the experimental case and diabetic control. Then, the experimental group received aqueous extract of Walnut leaves (400 mg/kg, PO) for four weeks. Finally, blood samples were taken and tested for glucose and lipids levels and the concentration of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C and LDL-C in the serum was measured.

  Results: Administration of aqueous extract of Walnut leaves extract caused a significant decrease in glucose (P=0.009), cholesterol (P=0.045), LDL-C (P=0.022), triglyceride (P=0.047) and a significant increase in HDL-C levels (P=0.045) in diabetic rats. Also, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (P=0.035) and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (P=0.006) in the treatment group significantly decreased compared with the control diabetic group.

  Conclusion: Although it was found that aqueous extract of Walnut leaves has significant effects on decreasing blood glucose and lipids in diabetic rats, further work is necessary to elucidate the extent and mechanism of these changes.