Hypolipidemic Action of Medicinal Plant Extracts for Experimental Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Aqueous extracts of nettle leaves (100 mg/kg) and greater burdock roots (25 mg/kg) decreased the blood levels of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low- and very-low-density lipoproteins; increased the cholesterol and protein contents of high-density lipoproteins; and prevented low-density lipoprotein oxidation and high-density lipoprotein and hemoglobin glycosylation in experimental diabetes mellitus induced in rats by streptozotocin and a high-fat (30%) diet. The hypolipidemic action of the plant extracts did not decrease if the animals were fed a high-fat diet. Rosiglitazone exhibited more significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects with a low-fat diet. Flavonoids and carotenoids were responsible for the antidiabetic action of the nettle and burdock extracts.