Antidiabetic activity of alcoholic extract of Linum usitatissimum in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to evaluate antidiabetic activity of alcoholic extract of Linum usitatissimum (LU) seeds in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The LU seeds extract was administered to the rats orally daily for 28 days. Blood glucose measured at weekly interval and various hematological parameters (Hb, RBC, PCV, TLC, MCV, MCH and MCHC), serum biochemical parameters (creatinine, BUN, AST, ALT and total cholesterol) as well as histopathology were carried out at the end of treatment to evaluate its antidiabetic effects in diabetic rats. After 28 days administration of alcoholic extract of LU showed the significant reduction in the elevated blood glucose, creatinine, BUN, AST, ALT and total cholesterol levels along with restoration of the pathological lesions in histoarchitecture of pancreas as compared to diabetic control rats. Our results suggest that the alcoholic extract of LU seeds clearly demonstrated the antidiabetic activity in an experimental model of rats.