Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Use of medicinal plants for attenuation of hyperglycemia and restoration of lipids to normal level is very important. The effect of oral administration of Vaccinium myrtillus (VM) on serum glucose and lipids in diabetic rats was investigated.

Material and methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, i.e. control, VM-treated control, diabetic, and VM-treated diabetic groups. The treatment groups received oral administration of plant-mixed pelleted food (6.25%) for 4 weeks. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL- cholesterol levels were determined before the study, and at 2nd and 4th weeks after the study.

Results: Serum glucose level in diabetic group increased 2 and 4 weeks after the experiment as compared to data one week before the study (P<0.001) and VM treatment of diabetic rats did have a significant hypoglycemic effect (P<0.01). In addition, triglyceride level in diabetic group increased 4 weeks after the experiment in comparison with related data one week before the study (P<0.05) and there was a significant lower level of triglyceride in VM-treated diabetic rats (P<0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant changes regarding serum total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL- cholesterol levels in treated diabetic group as compared to untreated diabetic group.

Conclusion: Oral administration of VM has a significant hypoglycemic effect and leads to an appropriate changes only in triglyceride level.