Antidiabetic Effects of Juglans regia Leave’s Methanolic Extract on Alloxan-induced Male Wisrar Rats

Abstract

Background: Juglans regia leaves have antioxidant effects and have been used in Iranian traditional medicines for its hypoglycaemic properties in the treatment of diabetes. Objective: This study is designed to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of Juglans regia leave’s methanolic extract (JRLME). Methods: Alloxan-induced diabetic male wistar rats have treated with JRLME at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg for three weeks and its effects investigated on various biochemical parameters such as postprandial blood glucose level (short term and long term treatment by JRLME), oral glucose tolerance, Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and VLDL levels, enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) using commercial kits. Results: The obtained results showed a decrease (31%) in the blood glucose level within 3 to 8 hours and also a significant decrease (44%) at the end of three weeks of feeding JRLME. The JRLME also decreased markedly TG (14%) and TC (7.6%) levels in blood serum. In addition, antioxidant effect of JRLME was determined from elevated GPX, SOD and CAT activities by 22, 12 and 9%, respectively, as compared to diabetic control group (DC). However, the data about CAT activity was not significant as compared to diabetic control group (DC). Conclusion: We concluded that Juglans regia leaves have multifunctional ameliorating effects in diabetic metabolic conditions.

Keywords

• juglans regia
• blood glucose
• total cholesterol
• antioxidant