Effects of arctium lappa extracts which were used on treatment of diabettes mellitus in Turkish folk medicine on STZ induced hyperglicemia on rats blood glucose levels

Arctium lappa extracts have traditionally been used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in Turkey. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of Arctium lappa root extracts which prepared by decoction on stz induced diabetic rats blood glucose levels. In this study, 49 Wistar breed rats which were 210-255 gr were used. The animals were divided into seven groups, two of which were control. Diabetes was induced by a single dose intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (70mg/kg). Three days after STZ inducing, 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day Arctium lappa extracts were orally administrated to four groups during fourteen-day treatment. 600?g/kg/day glibenclamide was given orally everyday to a group selected as a positive control. Fasting blood levels were determined at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours after extract administration and then after 1, 5, 8, 11 and 14 days. After a single dose of extract at doses of 100 and 250 mg/kg showed a significant reduction in the blood glucose level after 24 hours, where the extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg showed a significant increase (P<0.001). At the end of study the extract dose of 100 mg/kg showed a significant reduction (P<0.001) in the blood glucose comparable with that of glibenclamide treated group. 500 mg/kg dose of extract was aggravated diabetic condition (P<0.001) comparable with diabetic controls. Our data indicated that Arctium lappa reduced blood glucose levels significantly in dose-dependent manner. As a result, it is suggested that Arctium lappa extracts have antidiabetic activities.