Antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective effects of Salvia tebesana Bunge in diabetic rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Medicinal plants have been used to cure numerous diseases compared to orthodox medicines. The present study estimated the antidiabetic activity of ethanolic extract of Salvia tebesana Bunge in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In this study type 2 diabetes was induced in male rats by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, i.p.). After diabetes induction, normal control groups were treated with distilled water, the positive control group received metformin (500 mg/kg), and the other groups were orally treated with ethanolic extracts of S. tebesana (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Changes in body weight and some biochemical parameters were determined. FINDINGS / RESULTS: The ethanolic extract of S. tebesana in all doses considerably declined serum glucose, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and triglyceride compared with the diabetic control rats. Administration of ethanolic extract of S. tebesana reduced the serum of kidney and liver function factors and decreased the side effects on the function of these. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These results revealed the potential of S. tebesana for the cure of diabetes and its problems.