INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY & LIFE SCIENCES (Int. J. of Pharm. Life Sci.) Hypoglycemic effects of Marrubium vulgare (Rubia) in experimentally induced autoimmune Diabetes Mellitus

Cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) are involved in the Pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes mellitus (DM) Type1. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Marrbium vulgare L in autoimmune DM. Autoimmune DM-Type1 was induced in adult male albino mice by co-administration of cyclosporine A and multiple low doses of streptozotocin. Diabetic mice were treated daily with 2, 2 and 1mg/ml doses of Marrbium vulgare L (methanol, water and buthanol extract) respectively for 28 days. Blood glucose level (BGL), serum insulin level, lipid profile and pancreatic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and (NO) were measured. The results showed that Marrbium vulgare L treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the BGL and the pancreatic levels of IFN-γ and NO compared to diabetic mice and significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides. The serum insulin level and HDL cholesterol level were significantly increased after Marrbium vulgare L treatment compared to diabetic mice. These results suggest that Marrbium vulgare L has a beneficial effect in the treatment of autoimmune diabetes, an effect that seemed to be a secondary consequence of its anti-inflammatory.