Influence of Combined Administration of Turmeric and Black seed on Selected Biochemical Parameters of Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Key words ABSTRACT: Diabetes mellitus, blood glucose, body weight, water intake, food intake. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) and Black cumin seed (Nigella Sativa) mixture on selected biochemical parameters of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Therefore, twenty one healthy adult albino rats divided into three groups (7 rats in each). Rats of first and second groups were non diabetic and diabetic respectively. Rats of the third group were diabetic and received a mixture of Turmeric (0.5 g/kg b .wt.) and Black cumin seed (1 g/kg b.wt.) orally by intragastric intubations once a day for six weeks. The changes in blood glucose level, body weight and water and food intake were measured. In addition, selected biochemical parameters were also determined. The present study revealed that, dietary supplementation of plant mixture of Turmeric and Black cumin seed to diabetic rats significantly (P<0.05) reduced the blood glucose level as well as water and food intake accompanied by an increase in body weight gain when compared with untreated diabetic rats. Proteins were not affected whereas liver and kidney functions were disrupted in STZ-diabetic rats and restored whenever treated by medicinal plants mixture. Hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia observed in STZ-diabetic rats were attenuated by administration of examined medicinal plants combination. Conclusively, dietary supplementation of Turmeric and Black cumin seed mixture reduced blood glucose level and ameliorated the hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia in STZ induced diabetic rats.