Antidiabetic effects of Allium ascalonicum methanolic extract in experimental diabetes

In the present study we have investigated the antidiabetic effects of bulbs of Persian shallot Allium ascalonicum L., (Alliaceae) methanolic extract (AAE) at doses of 500 and 250mg/kg bw, on Alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar rats in comparision with Acarbose (as a reference drug), by measuring postprandial blood glucose (PBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), inhibition of rat intestinal α-glucosidases activities, changes in the levels of plasma lipids profiles antioxidant enzymes activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), pancreatic Insulin and cardiac Glut-4 mRNAs expression. In diabetic Wistar rats, in short term period, effects of AAE on PBG showed significant reduction after 24h of oral administration. After 3 weeks of treatment, significant chronic decrease in the PBG was observed. For OGTT, the increase in PBG levels reduced mildly in AAE treated diabetic rats, at 1hour. Intestinal sucrase and maltase activities were inhibited by AAE, 17.41% and 14.62% respectively. In diabetic rats, AAE also increased the activities of SOD by 65%, GPx by 43% and CAT by 55%, showing strong antioxidant effects. AAE demonstrated antihyperlipidemic properties by reducing serum TG, LDL, VLDL and TC. In addition, we have observed increased expression of Ins and Glut-4 genes in diabetic rats treated with methanolic extract of Allium ascalonicum, compared to control group.

Acknowledgement: The authors would like to thank the Cellular and Molecular Department of University of Tehran for financial support.

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