Preventive effect of combining zinc sulphate and garlic flowers extract on diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in male rats

Zinc has beneficial effects in diabetic animals. The positive effects of garlic in lowering blood sugar and complications (side effect) of diabetes have been reported.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effect of zinc sulfate combined with garlic flower extract on diabetes induction by (STZ) in male rats.
21 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n=7),
Normal control group, which received regular food and water during 45 days and on 15th day were injected normal saline, the positive control group (diabetic by STZ at a dose 40mg/kg on the fifteenth day), and preventive treatment groups, receiving combined of flowers garlic extract at a dose 360mg/Lit and zinc sulfate at a dose 36mg/lit in drinking water during 15-days treatment period before were used to diabetes. STZ (40mg/kg intraperitoneally) was injected after treatment.
The insulin hormone measured by radioimmunoassay with special kits and blood glucose measured by using enzymatic colorimetric methods.
Serum level of insulin in the preventive treatment group increased significantly (p The results showed that a combination of garlic extract and zinc sulfate as preventive agents in induced diabetes give rise to increasing of insulin and decreasing of blood glucose.