Antidiabetic effect of burdock (Arctium lappa L.) root ethanolic extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Antidiabetic effect of the root ethanolic extract of burdock (Arctium lappa L.), a traditional medicinal and edible plant, was investigated in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. The results show that the oral administration of burdock root ethanolic extract (BRE) significantly decreased blood glucose and increased insulin level in diabetic rats compared to the control diabetic group. Meanwhile, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the BRE treated diabetic rats were lower, and the high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was higher than those index of the control diabetic rats. Furthermore, oral administration of BRE significantly decreased serum urea and creatinine as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of liver and kidney tissues, while body weight gain and tissue glycogen content were elevated in diabetic rat, all of which indicate an improvement in diabetic state. In addition, 400 mg/kg body weight BRE treated group had a marked improvement of the glucose tolerance in normoglycemic rats. No hypoglycemic effects of BRE were observed in normal rats. The results demonstrate that BRE possessed significant antidiabetic activity in diabetic rats.