Effect of Afghan Hibiscus sabdariffa L. and Carum Carvi L. Hydro-alcoholic Extracts Either Alone or in Combination on Blood Glucose Level in Diabetic Rats

Combination therapy is considered as a new and effective therapeutic strategy for control of hyperglycemia. The present study aimed to determine the hypoglycemic effect of Afghan Hibiscus sabdariffa L. and Carum Carvi L. hydro-alcoholic extracts either alone or in combination on diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were administered intraperitoneally with hydro-alcoholic extracts of H. sabdariffa (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg), C. carvi (150, 300 and 500 mg/kg) and their combinations for 21 days. The Fasting blood glucose and body weight of rats were determined on 0, 7, 14 and 21st days. The results showed a significant (P<0.0001) hypoglycemic effect of H. sabdariffa extract (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg) on 7, 14 and 21th days, C. carvi extract (500 mg/kg), and their effective doses combination (75:25), especially on 7th day. Only 75 mg/kg of H. sabdariffa had positive effect on body weight loss of diabetic rats (P<0.05). One can conclude that Afghan H. sabdariffa and C. carvi hydro-alcoholic extracts and their combination have a hypoglycemic effect. However, their combinations do not have any synergic effects, so the hypoglycemic effect of H. sabdariffa was much greater and even normalized the blood glucose level.