Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of ethanolic extract of Zygophyllum album in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Zygophyllum album has been mentioned in Tunisian system of folk medicine to be of value in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The present study was designed to investigate the possible antihyperglycemic effects of ethanolic extracts of the whole plant of Z. album on blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum lipids and hepatic glycogen and metabolism enzymes of carbohydrate in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Administration of the ethanolic extract from plant (100 and 300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days resulted in significant reduction in plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density liprotein, hepatic glucokinase and glycogen in STZ diabetic mice. In addition to that, significant increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein, hepatic phosphofructokinase and glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase was observed in STZ diabetic mice. After administration of the ethanolic extract, the increased level of plasma insulin is not significant in diabetic mice. In conclusion, the present results showed that the ethanolic extract of Z. album possesses significant antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects in experimental model of diabetes mellitus.