title: Rheum turkestanicumrhizomes possess anti-hypertriglyceridemic, but not hypoglycemic or hepatoprotective effect in experimental diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rheum turkestanicum(R. turkestanicum) rhizomes have been used in Iranain traditional medicine as an anti-diabetic agent. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities ofR. turkestanicumrhizome extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin in male Wistar rats. Diabetic rats received the decoction extract ofR. turkestanicumrhizomes at the doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg daily by gavage for 3 weeks. Serum glucose and lipid levels were measured in all groups before diabetes induction and at the end of week 3. Oxidative stress was evaluated in the liver by measurement of malondialdehyde levels and total thiol concentration at the end of the experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in serum glucose and triglyceride levels was observed in diabetic rats, which was accompanied by increased malondialdehyde levels and decreased total thiol concentration in the liver after 3 weeks. Treatment of diabetic rats withR. turkestanicumrhizome extract at the doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg over a 3-week period did not change serum glucose, hepatic malondialdehyde and total thiol levels in diabetic rats. However, treatment withR. turkestanicumextract significantly decreased serum triglyceride levels in a dose-dependent manner at the end of the experiment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  R. turkestanicumrhizome extract possess anti-hypertriglyceridemic, but not hypoglycemic or hepatoprotective effect in diabetic rats. Therefore,R. turkestanicumrhizome should be consumed with more caution by diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mousa-Al-Reza
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hadjzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ziba
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rajaei
authors.affiliation: Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Esmaeil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khodaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malek
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghanbari
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Hyperglycemia; Hypertriglyceridemia; Oxidative stress; Rheum turkestanicum