title: Acute hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects of continuous intravenous infusion of a lyophilised aqueous extract of Ajuga iva L. Schreber whole plant in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of continuous intravenous infusion of a lyophilised aqueous extract of the whole plant Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (Labiatae) (AI-extract) was investigated in anesthetized normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The AI-extract was administered to a group of rats by continuous intravenous infusion for 4 h at a dose of 4.2 microg/min/100 g body weight; another group was infused with taurine, the reference compound, at the same dose. In normal rats, AI-extract infusion had no effect on plasma glucose or triglycerides, but plasma cholesterol levels were significantly decreased (22%; P<0.05). However, taurine infusion produced significant hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects (all changes, P<0.05). In STZ-diabetic rats, AI-extract infusion reduced plasma levels of glucose by 24 % (P<0.05), cholesterol by 35% (P<0.01) and triglycerides by 13% (P<0.05). Infusion with taurine produced a greater fall in plasma glucose (72%, P<0.01), cholesterol (54%; P<0.001) and triglyceride (24%; P<0.001) levels. Our results indicate that intravenously administered AI-extract exerts hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic rats by mechanism(s) which appear to be similar to that of taurine, which involve insulin sensitization or an insulin-like effect. The identity and the exact mechanism(s) of action of the active component(s) of the AI-extract are not known. Ajuga iva appears to be a useful plant in the therapy of diabetes, a condition in which hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia coexist quite often.
authors.affiliation: UFR Physiology-Pharmacology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehraz, Fez, Morocco.
authors.forename: Jaouad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El-Hilaly
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahraoui
authors.forename: Zafar H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Israili
authors.forename: Badiâa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lyoussi
mesh_terms: D031328:Ajuga; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D014867:Water; D013311:Streptozocin; D002784:Cholesterol