Hypoglycemic effect of Suaeda fruticosa in streptozotocin-induced diabeticrats

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypoglycemic activity of the a queous extract of the aerial part of Suaeda fruticosa (SF) in normal and st reptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The aqueous extract was administered in travenously (i.v.) and the blood glucose changes were determined within 4 h after starting the treatment. Plasma insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride s levels were also determined. The aqueous extract at a dose of 192 mg/kg p roduced a significant decrease in blood glucose levels in normal rats (P < 0.05), and even more in diabetic rats (P < 0.001). This hypoglycemic effect might be due to an extra-pancreatic action of the aqueous extract of SF, s ince that the levels of plasma insulin were unchanged between the values be fore and after treatment. In the other hand, the effect of the aqueous extr act on the plasma cholesterol were also significant in both normal and diab etic rats (P < 0.05). But, there is no significant effect of SF on plasma t riglycerides in both groups. In order to characterize the active principle( s), which could be responsible for the therapeutic effect, preliminary phyt ochemical analysis of the aqueous extract of the plant has been investigate d. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.