Anti-Hyperglycemic Role of Hydroethanolic Extract of Foeniculum Vulgare Seed on Diabetic Wistar Albino Rats

Feven Tigstu  Ayele; Winner Kucha  Dewelle; Maria Degef  Teklemariam; Gnanasekaran  Natesan; Yonas Bekuretsion  Abraham; Gelila Woredebrhan  Mesfin; Chala Bashea  Hailu; Solomon Genet  Gebre

doi:10.18502/ijdo.v17i4.20040

Feven Tigstu Ayele Department of Biomedical, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Winner Kucha Dewelle Department of Clinical Chemistry, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Maria Degef Teklemariam Department of Biochemistry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gnanasekaran Natesan Department of Biochemistry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Yonas Bekuretsion Abraham Department of Pathology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gelila Woredebrhan Mesfin Biomedical Department, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.
Chala Bashea Hailu National Clinical Chemistry Reference Laboratory, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Solomon Genet Gebre Department of Biochemistry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijdo.v17i4.20040

Keywords: Alloxan, Diabetes mellitus, Wistar albino rats, Foeniculum vulgare, Anti-hyperglycemic effect

Abstract

Objective: Foeniculum vulgare has been suggested as a potential option for the management ofhyperglycemia. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic effects of the hydro-ethanolic extract ofFoeniculum vulgare seeds (HEEFVS) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-six male rats were randomly divided into six groups (I–VI). Diabetes wasinduced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (175 mg/kg) in groups II–VI. Groups I and II received distilledwater; groups III, IV, and V were treated with HEEFVS at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight/day,respectively; and group VI received glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight/day). Serum glucose, total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and histological analysisof the liver were assessed.

Results: Administration of HEEFVS at 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased ALT and AST activities(P< 0.001). Total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced (P< 0.001) at all tested doses (100, 200, and 400mg/kg). Triglyceride levels showed a significant reduction (P< 0.01) only at the 400 mg/kg dose. During thesecond and third weeks, administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg markedly reduced glucose levels (P< 0.001).Complete regeneration of liver tissue was observed in the 400 mg/kg group, while partial restoration was seenin the 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups. DPPH radical scavenging and α-amylase inhibitory activities ofHEEFVS demonstrated IC50 values of 146.6 μg/ml and 8.47 μg/ml, respectively. The LD50 of HEEFVS wasgreater than 3500 mg/kg.

Conclusion: HEEFVS exhibits strong hepato-protective, hypolipidemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects.