Abstract

Durdi Qujeq*, Saied Davary, Zoleika Moazzi and Soleiman Mahjoub

Urtica dioica has been shown to have capability of reducing blood glucose through enhancing insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to assess in vivo and in vitro effects of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of U. dioica leaves on activities of Acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC), Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) and insulin level and serum glucose concentration. The experimental animals were randomly distributed among 6 groups of 7 or 8 rats each. The treatment groups received 150 mg/kg of alloxan. Then rats were fed alcoholic and aqueous extracts of U. dioica at 50 mg/kg/day doses for a period of two weeks. Subsequently glucose, insulin levels, and ACC, NDPK activity were measured. Our studies showed significantly lower levels of glucose in the group of rats that were treated with ethanol extract of U. dioica leaves as compared with the control group (279.6 ± 24.3 vs. 393.6 ± 24.9 mg/dl), (p<0.01). Present results showed significantly elevated levels of insulin in the group of rats treated with ethanol extract of U. dioica leaves as compared with the control group (7.6 ± 0.3 vs. 3.6 ± 0.2, µg/l), (p<0.01). Also, results showed significantly elevated activity of ACC and NDPK in the group of rats treated with ethanol and aqueous extract of U. dioica leaves as compared with the control group. The results of the present study indicated that alcoholic extract of U. dioica leaves was found to reduce glucose level and increase insulin secretion, ACC and NDPK activity in the alloxan diabetic animals.