DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2013.v01i02.006

Pages: 48-55

Abstract: The present study investigated the effect of aqueous extracts of chamomile and/or oregano on diabetic rats. Fifty rats were assigned into five groups equally. Groups (2-5) were made diabetic by intra-peritoneal administration of alloxan while group (1) was kept as normal control. Groups 3, 4& 5 were administered chamomile and/or oregano for six weeks. The significant improvement in the body gain appeared gradually after extracts administration by the six week. All of the extracts had significant (P≤ 0.05) hypoglycaemic effect on diabetic treated rats compared to control or diabetic non treated groups manifested by lowering blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), amylase activity with an increase of insulin. Renal functions represented by blood urea, creatinine, uric acid and total protein showed significant improvement on all of the treated groups especially in oregano and mixture group. While, High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-c) was increased among the treated groups compared with the non treated one. Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-c) and Very Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (VLDL-c) were significantly (P≤ 0.05) lowered in the groups treated with all extracts when compared with those untreated. This effect appeared to be abolished with chamomile extract as evidenced by lower decreases in the lipid fractions.