Effects of Cirsium japonicum Powder on Plasma Glucose and Lipid Level in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

This investigation was conducted to assess the influence of Cirsium japonicum consumption on the plasma glucose and lipid profiles in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230 g by injection of STZ into the tail vein at 45 mg/kg body weight. The rats were randomly assigned into four groups: a normal and STZ-control fed an AIN-93 diet group, and diabetic groups whose diets were supplemented with 10% Cirsium japonicum powder containing leaf or root for four weeks. To observe the effects of Cirsium japonicum in the animal model, the levels of glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid in the plasma and the levels of glycogen in the tissue were determined after four weeks. Treatment of STZ-induced diabetic rats with leaf consumption significantly lowered the diet intake when compared with STZ-control rats. The relative weights of the liver and kidney differed significantly between the normal and diabetic groups. The weights of the kidneys in the leaf group were significantly lower than those in the STZ-control group. The level of hematocrit was also significantly lower in diabetic rats whose diets were supplemented with leaves when compared to those of STZ-control rats. The plasma glucose level was found to be significantly lower in the leaf group than the STZ-control group. The effect was significant after 2 weeks. The HDL-cholesterol levels increased in all of the diabetic experimental groups when compared to the STZ-control group. These results suggest that supplementation with Circicum japonicum leaves induced considerable hypoglycemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats and that these leaves may be useful for the management of diabetes mellitus.