Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of combined milk thistle and fenugreek seeds in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats

Abstract

Background and Aim: Despite the availability of antidiabetic drugs, they are not free from associated adverse side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of oral administration of seeds from two medicinal plants: (1) Milk thistle and (2) fenugreek. Materials and Methods: Plant seeds were washed in distilled water and ground with a coffee grinder. Alloxan was used to induce diabetes in 20 male albino rats. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into two groups: (1) Group 1 (n=10), diabetic rats fed with 0.5 g/kg milk thistle and 2 g/kg fenugreek seeds per day and (2) Group 2 (n=10), diabetic rats fed standard rodent food for 4 weeks. Results: Oral administration of milk thistle and fenugreek seeds for 2 weeks resulted in significant improvement in body weight, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. After 4 weeks, this ameliorative effect was significantly elevated with respect to blood glucose (155.00±9.70 mg/ dL vs. 427.50±5.70 mg/dL; p<0.001), HbA1c (5.5±0.19% vs. 13.65±1.77%; p<0.001), cholesterol (281.50±10.95 mg/dL vs. 334.30±6.80 mg/dL; p<0.001), triglyceride (239.60±6.87 mg/dL vs. 284.20±9.95 mg/dL; p<0.01), and body weight (265.30±8.10 g vs. 207.40±11.4 g; p<0.01) as compared with non-treated diabetic rats. Conclusion: Milk thistle and fenugreek seeds possess hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties and could be used as natural compounds that are suitable as parent compounds for the development of new antidiabetic drugs.

Effect of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Supplementation on Pork Offal Quality

“…Other studies demonstrated that supplementation of animal diets with different forms and concentrations of milk thistle caused muscle pH to increase not only in pigs [ 7 ], but also in broiler chickens [ 40 ] and in rabbits [ 41 ]. This relationship may result from the hyperglycemic action of the active component of milk thistle, i.e., silibinin [ 42 , 43 ]. As reported by Colturato et al [ 44 ], silibinin concentrations of 50–300 µM have a marked effect on carbohydrate metabolism in rat liver by inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the fasted condition as well as glycogenolysis and glycolysis in the fed condition.…”

Physiological and Histological Study of the Therapeutic Effect of Silibinin on Testicular Alteration in Adult Male Albino Rats

“…Androgens function in the testis to stimulate the development of both Leydig and Sertoli cells. Androgen has opposing effects on adult Leydig cells and adult Sertoli cells, partially suppressing steroid genesis in the former but boosting the latter's actions that are essential for spermatogenesis [48,49] . Serum TH reduction in the present study might be due to a disturbed oxidant antioxidant state [25] .…”

Comparative Evaluation of Alpha-Amylase and Alpha- Glucosidase Inhibitory Potential of Aqueous Seed Extract of Trigonella Foenum-Graecum and Moringa Oleifera - An In vitro Study

“…Plant polyphenols and the flavonoids are some of the commonly occurring antidiabetic agents [8]. Trigonella foenum-graecum contributes to lower postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes the mechanisms of action involves provocation of glucose dependent insulin secretion from beta cells of pancreas along with embarrassment of activity of enzymes like amylase and glucosidase [9,10].…”

“…Moringa oleifera is a famous consumable plant having therapeutic and the nutritive values.Moringa oleifera is also known as Horseradish tree and also called as drumsticktree.It is rich in phytochemicals and minerals [9][10][11]. It is a constituent of folk medicine and helps to cure the diabetes.It is commonly called as Miracle tree.It also helps to control cancer [12][13][14].…”