Effect of Hexanic and Alcoholic Extracts of Fenugreek Seed in Male Diabetic Rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is recognized with severe complications. Many herbal medicines have been recommended for treatment of diabetes problem. In this study, the effect of hexanic and alcoholic extracts of fenugreek (Trigonella-foenum graecum) on serum parameters was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out in 2011 at paramedical school of Guilan University of Medical Sciences, 48 male Sprague Dawley rats (230-300 gram) were divided into six groups: control, type 1 diabetic, and 2 diabetic groups that receive alcoholic extract and 2 groups receive hexanic extract of fenugreek (100, 200 mg/kg body weight) intraperitonealy for 28 days. For diabetes induction, streptozotocin (60 mg/kg/ intraperitonealy) was used. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), urea, creatinine, uric acid, AST and ALT level was measured. Data were analyzed with spss software 16 and One Way ANOVAs and Tukey test. p < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: fenugreek extract inhibit weight loss especially in diabetic groups that receive hexanic extract (p=0.006). blood glucose, total cholesterol, TG, urea, creatinin, uric acid, AST and ALT level was reduced significantly in diabetics groups that receive fenugreek extract (p=0.001). This effect was stronger in groups that receive Hexanic extract Conclusion: Fenugreek is a good candidate for reduction of diabetic complications.