Antidiabetic Activity of Aqueous Fruit Extract of Ribes biebersteinii in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: Ribes biebersteinii (Rb) is one of pharmaceutical plants which was used in traditional medicine for decreasing blood sugar. Objective: In this study, effect of aqueous fruit extract of Rb on blood sugar of rats was investigated. Methods: In this research 60 male Wistar rats were categorized randomly in 10 equal groups with two timeframes (7 & 14 days). Extraction of Rb was performed with 50 g in 500 ml of distilled water for 18 hours by using a soxhlet extractor. For inducing diabetes, streptozotocin 7 mg/0.5 ml in normal saline was injected intramuscularly per 100 gram of rat body weight. Aqueous fruit extract of Rb was given orally to rats daily (80 mg/0.5 ml in distilled water per 100 gram of rat body weight). Then the blood samples sent to the laboratory to measure the following factors: glucose, lipids; and activity of the enzymes in plasma serum. Results: Ribes biebersteinii compared to diabetic group had significant effect on blood sugar (P≤0.0001). After 14 days, there is significant difference between weight of treated rats with fruit extract of Rb (162.2 ± 1.70) and diabetic group (149.7±2.16) (P≤0.001). Also fruit extract of Rb had no effect on blood fat (Cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL, HDL) of treated rats. Conclusion: According to the results concluded that extract of Ribes biebersteinii had effect on the blood sugar of rats and led to decrease blood sugar of rats. Because the fruit is rich in anthocyanins, this effect may be due to the its antioxidant effect.