title: Antidiabetic effect of Ruta montana L. in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ruta montana (L.) is known as a medicinal plant with many beneficial effects, including those that can be used in the treatment of diabetes. The objective of the study was to investigate the antidiabetic effect of this plant in diabetic rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated the effects of an aerial part aqueous extract (APAE) of Ruta montana (L.) (RM) at a dose of 5 mg/kg on blood glucose levels in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Histopathological changes were also evaluated in liver and pancreas both in normal and STZ-induced rats. The effect of this aqueous extract on glucose tolerance was demonstrated in normal rats. Furthermore, the relative organ weight (ROW) of liver, kidney, pancreas, and brown adipose tissue were evaluated after 15 days of daily oral administration of the aqueous extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both single and repeated oral doses of APAE (5 mg/kg) produced significant reductions in the blood glucose levels in normal and STZ-induced rats. Oral glucose tolerance test results showed that, after the administration of 3 g/kg of glucose, RM APAE (5 mg/kg) improved the increase in blood glucose levels in normal rats at the 30th min (p<0.01) and 90th min (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RM APAE exhibits a potent hypoglycemic effect in normal rats and an antidiabetic effect in STZ-induced rats. This finding supports the use of this plant in traditional Moroccan medicine for diabetes management.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Boutalamine, Errachidia.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Farid
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Boutalamine, Errachidia.
authors.forename: Morad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hebi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Boutalamine, Errachidia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ajebli
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Boutalamine, Errachidia.
authors.forename: Ahmed El
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hidani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Boutalamine, Errachidia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eddouks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000379:methods; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D032105:Ruta / Q000737:chemistry*; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013311:Streptozocin
keywords: Ruta montana; glucose tolerance; histopathological changes; streptozotocin