PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC STUDY OF CRUDE HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF AERIAL PARTS OF MARRUBIUM VULGARE L. IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED-DIABETIC WISTAR RATS

The phytochemical screening, the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of crude hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts ofMarrubium vulgare L. were evaluated in normal and Streptozotocin- induced diabetic in Wistar rats. First, the preliminary phytochemical test to identify the chemical constituents of crude hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of M. vulgare was carried. Next, the rats were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection dose of 300 mg/kg body weight. The changes in fasting blood glucose level were measured, in the short term, before (0, 60, 120 and 180min) after the treatments. After 14 days experimental period, rats were weighed and blood was collected for measurement of serum glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. The phytochemical investigation of M. vulgare led to the characterization of several families of secondary metabolites: flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, tannins, terpenes and/or sterols. The statistical data indicated the  very significant (p<0.0001) decrease in  the fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides, for diabetic rats, 2 weeks after injection of extract studied, compared to control diabetic rat. This decrease is about 61%, 26% and 15%, respectively, compared to initial value day in which the treatment commenced. The hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts ofM. vulgare L. has had beneficial effects in reducing the elevated blood glucose level and lipid profile of STZ-induced-diabetic rats.