Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L) seeds on serum parameters in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Many herbal medicines have been recommended for the treatment of diabetes. The antidiabetic effect of fenugreek ethanolic extract (Trigonella-foenum graecum L) was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of fenugreek extract (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 g/kg body weight) for 14 days on the level of serum glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, urea, uric acid, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were evaluated. Treatment of fenugreek extract alleviated body weight loss in diabetic rats. Administrations of the extract significantly decreased serum glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, urea, uric acid, creatinine, AST, and ALT levels, whereas it increased serum insulin in diabetic rats but not in normal rats (P < .05). A comparison was made between the action of fenugreek extract and glibenclamide (600 μg/kg), the known antidiabetic drug. The antidiabetic effect of the extract was similar to that observed for glibenclamide. It is concluded that the plant should be considered as an excellent candidate for future studies on diabetes mellitus.