Effects of Salicornia herbacea L. Supplementation on Blood Glucose and Lipid Metabolites in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Kim, Myung Wha

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the effects of Salicornia herbacea L. ( glasswort: GW) on the plasma blood glucose and lipid metabolites in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200 - 220g by an injection of streptozotocin ( STZ) dissolved in a citrate buffer into the tail vein at a dose of 45 mg/kg of body weight. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an AIN-93 recommended diet and the experimental groups were fed a modified diet containing 10% and 20% of glasswort powder for 4 weeks. The experimental groups were divided into 6 groups which consisted of normal ( N) -control group, N-GW 10% and N-GW 20% treated groups, STZ-control, STZ-GW 10% and STZ-GW 20% treated groups. The rats' body weights, aminotransferase activities and hematocrit ( Hct) values were measured, along with plasma levels of glucose, protein, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride ( TG) and free fatty acids ( FFA) . The non-diabetic rats gained weight, while the diabetic rats lost weight. There were significant differences between the control group and the diabetic groups in the weight of the kidney, liver and pancreas. Asparate aminotransferase activity was lower in the non-diabetic control group compared to diabetic experimental groups, even though the difference was not significant. The plasma protein of N-GW 20% group was lower among all experimental groups but it was not significantly different. The blood glucose levels of the STZ-GW 10% group and STZ-GW 20% group were significantly lower than for the diabetic-control group. There were no significant difference of cholesterol levels among diabetic groups. The normal rats of 20% glasswort group in FFA and TG levels showed significant changes among all groups. These results exhibited dose related effect of glasswort and it may contain antihypoglycemic compounds.