The Anti-hyperglycemic and Anti-hyperlipidemic Effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Seeds on Fructose-induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Abstract

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) seeds are widely used in the preparation of various meals and in traditional health care to treat various disorders and diseases, especially Diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted to investigate the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of the fenugreek seed extract on fructose-induced diabetic wistar rats. Indeed, 5 groups of rats were formed; the first and second groups were composed of normal rats treated with distilled water and fenugreek seed extract, respectively. The third, fourth, and fifth groups composed of diabetic rats were administered distilled water, 500 mg/kg of fenugreek seed extract, and 25 µg/kg. bw of a standard antidiabetic drug consecutively for 28 days. The repeated ingestion of fenugreek seed generated a significant rise (p < 0.05) of food and water consumption in diabetic rats as compared to the rats treated with distilled water. Furthermore, fenugreek seed extract caused a remarkable elevation of the body weights of diabetic rats in comparison with other groups. Additionally, chronic treatment of rats with fenugreek seed extract improved fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels in diabetic rats. Fenugreek seed extract has significant anti-diabetic activity by reducing the fasting blood sugar and ameliorating the lipid parameters of diabetic rats. However, more studies are required to isolate the phytochemical constituents that possess these activities and elucidate their mechanisms of action.

Keywords: Trigonella foenum-graecum L.; Diabetes mellitus; Fructose; Hypoglycaemic effect; Hypolipidemic effect.