Evaluation of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Cistus ladaniferus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective: To evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Cistus ladaniferus (C. ladaniferus) on glycemic and lipidemic status in diabetic rats. Methods: Overnight fasted rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (45 mg/kg) to induce experimental diabetes. The aqueous extract of the leaves of C. ladaniferus was administered orally at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight to diabetic rats for a period of 28 days. Hypoglycemic effect, body weight, oral glucose tolerance, change in lipid parameters, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels of diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract were evaluated in experimental animals. Results: Administration of 500 mg/kg of C. ladaniferus extract to diabetic rats for 28 days resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea and creatinine. Furthermore, the extract of C. ladaniferus improved glucose tolerance in diabetic rats, and its antidiabetic effect was similar to the one obtained with glibenclamide. The hypolipidemic effect was demonstrated by an important decrease in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Conclusions: It is concluded that C. ladaniferus leaf extract showed an antidiabetic activity in experimental diabetes which was similar to the one obtained with glibenclamide.