Investigation of the Hypoglycemic Effect of Tribulus terrestris Extract on Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Tribulus terrestris L. is a traditional herbal medicine used for treatment of hypertension, urinary tract inflammation, kidney and bladder stones. Objectives: The present study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of Tribulus terrestris (T.T.) fruit extract on rat blood glucose at acute and chronic phases compered with glibenclamide as the standard hypoglycemic drug. Method: 60 wistar male rats with 200-250 gr weight were selected and caged in same environmental condition. Diabetes was induced by 50mg/kg streptozocin intraperitoneal (ip) injection. After 15 days the rats with fasting blood sugar (FBS) above 200mg/dl were selected and divided into 10 groups of 6 rats each. The T.T. fruit extract in doses of 15, 30, 60, 150, 250, 500, 750, 1000 mg/kg for acute phase and 500, 750, 1000 mg/kg for chronic phase were selected for ip injected. FBG and 2 hour post prandial blood sugar (2hrPPBS) were determined every 20 days during 2 month of the study and fasting blood insulin were determined at the end of the study. Results: The results of this study indicate that in 750 and 1000mg/kg doses of T.T. fruit extract groups FBS and 2hrPPBS reduced significantly (p=0.000) compere to glibenclamide group. Conclusion: T.T. fruit extract at the doses of 750 and 1000mg/kg has antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic rats.

Keywords

• diabetes
• hypoglycemic
• streptozocin
• tribulus terrestris
• medicinal plants
• hyperglycemic rat