The Effects of Chicory Leaf Aqueous Extract on Body Weight, Serum Glucose and Lipid Levels in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease worldwide. Although it is treated with a number of methods including diet therapy, hypoglycemic agents, insulin and some herbs, its’ prevalence and complications are rapidly increasing. Chicory intybus has been used as a traditional diabetes treatment in Iran, Egypt, and other countries but there is a lack of convincing evidence on its effect. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of chicory leaf on body weight, serum insulin, glucose and lipids in diabetic male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Four groups were given streptozotocin intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Three of the diabetic groups received varying concentrations of chicory aqueous extract for three weeks (12, 25 and 50 mg /kg body weight). The forth diabetic group and the non-diabetic group received distilled water (diabetic and healthy control groups respectively). Fasting blood glucose, serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL and HDL levels were measured after 3 weeks of treatment. Results: The results did not show any significant effects on fasting blood glucose (173.5±126, 154.5±100, 247.7±46, 170.7±150.8 mg/dL) and serum lipids; LDL(19.5±7.7, 26.4±6.7, 24.2±7.7, 24.7±6.8 mg/dL), HDL(41±22.8, 41.2±12, 44.7±12.1, 40±4.6 mg/dL), TG (103.5±35, 80.4±53.8, 111±70, 94±8.9 mg/dL) and TC (76.2±27.3, 80.4±53.8, 77±18.4, 72.7±15 mg/dl) in Streptozotocin induced diabetic groups receiving 12, 25 and 50 mg/kg aqueous chicory extract and diabetic control groups respectively. Conclusions: Chicory leaf aqueous extract had no significant effects on serum glucose and lipids of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.