Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity of Urtica dioica on type 2 diabetic model rats

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the aqueous extract of Urtica dioica (UD) on glycemic status, body weight and lipidemic status in type 2 diabetic model rats. The mature and fresh leaves of UD were collected from the mountain range of Assam, in India. Type 2 diabetes was induced in 48 hour old male Long Evans pups by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of Streptozotocin (STZ). Experiments for chronic effects were done with continuous feeding of aqueous extract for 28 days at a dose of 1.25 g/kg body weight, in type 2 diabetic male rats. Serum glucose was estimated by GODPOD method. Serum triglycerides and cholesterol were measured by enzymatic-colorimetric method. The aqueous extract showed significant effect on lowering of fasting serum glucose levels on the 28 th day (13.7 ±2.6 mmol/l in control vs 7.1 ± 1.0 mmol/l in the treated group, p = 0.01). Body weights was increased in both the groups, after 28 days, although there was significant decrease in the body weight of the treated group in comparison to the control group (175 ± 8 g in control vs in 168 ± 9 g in the treated group on 0 day, p = ns; 193 ± 26 g in control vs in 180 ± 25 g in the treated group on the 28th day, p=0.002). Beneficial effects were observed on the lipids; cholesterol levels were significantly lowered in the extract treated group, after 28 days, in comparison with the 0 day value of the same group (p<0.05). Triglyceride and LDL values were lower in extract treated group, although the values were not statistically significant. The results obtained in this study suggest that UD has antihyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity in type 2 diabetic model rats.