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Influence
of Glimepiride and Nerium oleander Extract on
Insulin,
Glucose
Levels and Some Liver enzymes Activities
in
Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Maged M. YASSIN1, Saleh N. MWAFY2
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, The Islamic University of
Gaza, P.O. Box 108, Gaza Strip, PALESTINE
2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University of Gaza,
P.O. Box 1277, Gaza Strip, PALESTINE
Abstract:
The
present study is aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of
sulfonylurea drug glimepiride in comparison with Nerium oleander plant
extract on insulin, glucose levels and some liver enzymes activities in
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals were divided into control
and experimental groups. The experimental group was rendered diabetic by
intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 50 mg/kg body weight
streptozotocin. Rats with serum glucose levels >200 mg/dl were
subdivided into three sub-groups: rats of the first sub-group were
remained without treatment and considered as diabetics. Animals of the
second subgroup were orally administered 0.1 mg/kg body weight/day
glimepiride allover the experimental period of 4 weeks. The third
sub-group was orally received 250 mg/kg body weight/day Nerium oleander
extract for 4 weeks. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats showed
hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia compared to controls. Strong negative
correlation (r=-0.8) was found between serum insulin and glucose levels
in diabetic rats. This correlation was +0.4 and -0.3 in glimepiride and
Nerium olender-treated rats, respectively implying that glimepiride and
plant extract improved insulin and glucose levels with the former was
more efficient. The activities of serum aspatate aminotransferase,
alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly
increased in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats compared to controls.
Treatment of diabetic rats with glimepiride or Nerium oleander extract
also improved liver enzymes activities.
Key Words: Diabetic rats, streptozotocin, glimepiride,
Nerium oleander, therapy.
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