THE EFFECT OF RHAZYA-STRICTA ON GLUCOSE-HOMEOSTASIS IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTICIN DIABETIC RATS

The effect of R. stricta water extract on glucose homeostasis was studied in normal and streptozoticin diabetic rats. R. stricta had no effect on fasting glucose levels in normal and diabetic rats up to 7 h after its oral administration. In normal and diabetic rats R. stricta did not produce any significant effect on an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Chronic administration of R. stricta in drinking water for 37 days did not produce any effect on the parameters of glucose homeostasis studied (plasma glucose, body weight, feed and fluid intake and plasma fructoseamine) in the normal or diabetic phase of the experiment. The LD(50) of R. stricta in mice was 2.36 g/kg body weight of the lyophilised extract and a daily administration of R. stricta to rats for 5 days did not produce any signs of organ damage.