Hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seed residues in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

An extract of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seed residues has been shown to possess hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties in normal mice. The present study investigated the effects of an aqueous extract of seabuckthorn seed residues (ASSR) on serum glucose, lipid profiles and antioxidant parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: a normal control group; diabetic control group; diabetic groups supplemented with 5 mg/kg body weight glibenclamide (reference drug) and 400 mg/kg body weight ASSR. Diabetes in rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight). Vehicle (distilled water), glibenclamide and ASSR were administered orally to normal and diabetic rats once a day lasting for 4 weeks. The data showed that administration of ASSR significantly lowered the serum glucose, triglyceride and nitric oxide levels in diabetic rats. Moreover, ASSR treatment also increased serum superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione level markedly. These results show that ASSR has hypoglycemic, hypotriglyceridemic and antioxidant effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, suggesting that ASSR supplementation can be useful in preventing diabetic complications associated with hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress.