Hypoglycemic activity of Urtica pilulifera in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Feb;84(2-3):241-5. doi: 10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00315-x.

Abstract

The hypoglycemic activity of lectin isolated from Urtica pilulifera L. seeds (Urticaceae) was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Significant hypoglycemic effect was found at the dose of 100 mg/kg after i.p. administration for 30 days. Blood glucose (BG) level, food and fluid intake, body weight (BW) loss and histopathologic findings of the normal and diabetic animals were evaluated. The group treated with UPSL (U. pilulifera seed lectin) was also compared against glipizide (oral antidiabetic agent, Carlo-Erba) as a standard.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cell Count
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Drinking / drug effects
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Islets of Langerhans / drug effects
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology
  • Lectins / chemistry
  • Lectins / isolation & purification
  • Lectins / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Pancreas / pathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Urtica dioica / chemistry*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Lectins