Antidiabetic Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Anchusa Strigosa Lab in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats

Flowers of Anchusa strigosa Lab. (Boraginaceae) used traditionally in Iraq for curing many kinds of diseases including diabetes. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract of flowers of A. strigosa in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. The aqueous extract of A. strigosa flowers was administered orally (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) to diabetic rats for 30 days. A. strigosa caused a dose-dependent fall in blood glucose. Also there was an improvement in serum insulin levels. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed significant reduction in comparison with diabetic control group. The extract treatment also showed significant increase in hepatic glycogen levels. The results suggest that A. strigosa possesses antidiabetic effects in STZinduced diabetic rats.