Effect of alcoholic extract of Euphorbia cyparissias on serum lipid profile in streptozotocin induced diabetic male rats

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by disordering is the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Most blood glucose lowering drugs that are introduced for treatment, have side effects when used for long-term. Therefore, nowadays, in order to control diabetes and its complications, the use of drugs from plant origin is considered widely. In this study, 40 adult male Wistar rats weighting 250±20 gr were equally divided in to 4 groups randomly: 1- control group or intact animals,  2- Diabetic animals, 3- Treatment 1 group which received 500 mg/kg extract and 4- Treatment 2 group: which received250 mg/kg extract. Animals in the two treatment groups received E. cyparissias extract for 21 days by gastric gavage. At the end of the treatment, levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, VLDL and blood glucose were determined. The results showed that triglyceride and LDL levels decrease significantly in treatment 1 group compared with the diabetic group (p<0.05). Also HDL level increased significantly in treatment 1 group compared with the diabetic group (p<0.05). In addition, blood glucose level of treatment -1 group had decreased significantly in comparison with the diabetic group (p<0.05). This study showed that oral administration of E. cyparissias alcoholic extract has hypoglycemic effects. It can reduce the serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins in streptozotocin induced diabetic male rats.