A Comparative Investigation of the Effects of the Cynara scolymus L. and Glibenclamide on Biochemical Parameters in Diabetic Rats

Background and Aim: The use of herbal medicines in the treatment of diabetes is increasing, because they have fewer side effects compared to chemical drugs. This research was carried out to compare the effects of artichoke and glibenclamide on serum glucose and lipid profiles in diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: In this study, 24 male rats were divided into 4 groups. The control group (group I) received a standard diet. The second group, assigned as the diabetic control group, did not received any treatment. The third group (group II), the diabetic group, received a lowalcohol extract of artichoke of 300 mg/kg body weight via intraperitoneal injection for 14 days, and the fourth group (group IV), the diabetic group, received glibenclamide that was injected at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight. Finally, blood samples were gathered through cardiac puncture, and serum FBG, TG, TC, LDLc, VLDLc, HDLc and HbA1c were measured and compared by ANOVA and Tukey tests.Results: Serum TG, TC, FBG and HbA1c significantly decreased, while HDLc increased in the two groups of treated diabetic rats in comparison to diabetic control (p lt;0.05). Serum LDLc, VLDLc did not decrease significantly in the two groups of treated diabetic rats in comparison to diabetic control (p gt;0.05). With regard to TG, TC, LDLc, VLDLc and HbA1c, there was no significant distinction between the two treatment methods (p gt;0.05). However, HDLc levels in group III were remarkably higher than the group IV (p lt;0.05), and FBG levels in the group IV were significantly higher than the group III (p lt;0.024).Conclusion: The results indicated that artichoke alcoholic extract could improve hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and FBG in diabetic rats. Hence, it can be considered as an alternative remedy to control diabetes.