Background and Aims: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in the body. Sclerorhachis leptoclada belongs to the chicory family and is used for the treatment of AIDS and cancer due to the antioxidant compounds in the root. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Sclerorhachis leptoclada on glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: This experimental study included 60 male Wistar rats that were randomly divided into 10 groups of six animals per group, including control group, treatment groups 1, 2, and 3 (healthy, treated with 150 mg/kg and 300, and 600 extracts), diabetic control group, experimental groups 1, 2, and 3 (diabetic, treated with 150 mg/kg and 300 and 600 doses of extracts), positive control group (diabetic+glibenclamide), and healthy group (healthy+glibenclamide). Blood samples were taken from the rats after one month of gavage, and the measurement of glucose, urea, creatinine, and albumin levels were conducted in this study. Furthermore, a comparison was made between the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Sclerorhachis leptoclada and the glibenclamide (a common medicin). Eventually, the results obtained from the groups were compared using t-test and ANOVA.
Results: The results showed that the administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Sclerorhachis leptoclada could significantly reduce glucose levels in the experimental groups (diabetic+extract at doses of 150, 300, 600), compared to the diabetic group (P<0.001). In addition, the consumption of hydroalcoholic extract of Sclerorhachis leptoclada in diabetic patients had hypoglycemic effects and led to a significant reduction in triglyceride, HDL, and LDL levels in diabetic rats.
Conclusion: According to the results, the consumption of hydroalcoholic extract of Sclerorhachis leptoclada had hypoglycemic effects and reduced significantly the serum levels of glucose, triglyceride, and creatinine in diabetic rats.