Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) extract on insulin levels in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats

In traditional practice medicine, plants are used in many countries to control diabetes mellitus. The hypoglycaemic actions of these medicinal plants are beings studied. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) has been documented as a traditional treatment of diabetes. In the present study, oral administration of alcoholic fenugreek extract (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 g/kg body wt.) and glibenclamide (600 mg/kg body wt.) on plasma insulin in normal and diabetic rats was measured. After collection and taxonomic identification of plant, alcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds prepared by Clevenger and suxhlet apparatus respectively. The animals were made diabetic by using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.). The normal and diabetic rats were administrated orally with the extract (100, 250, 500 mg/kg) or glibenclamide (600 mg/kg) for 14 days. Blood samples were obtained and the plasma insulin was measured by using the radioimmuno assay kit. The results showed that the extract increased level of plasma insulin significantly. A comparison was made between the action of the extract and a known antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide. The antidiabetic effect of the extract was more effective than that observed with glibenclamide. The levels of insulin were significantly decreased in plasma of diabetic rats compared with the control group. After treatment of the extract, the levels of them were significantly increased. So, it can serve as a good adjuvant in the present armamentarium of diabetic drugs.