The Effects of Solvent Polarity on Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Activities of Portulaca Oleracea and Achillea Eriophora DC Extracts

The influence of solvent polarity for hydroethanol (a), chloroform (b), and carbon tetrachloride (c) on bioactive extraction contents of Portulaca oleracea (II) and Achillea eriophora DC (III) were evaluated by GC-MS analysis. The antidiabetic and antilipidemic properties of different extracts were investigated on streptozotocine-induced diabetic rats and compared to glibenclamide as well-known chemical drug for the treatment of diabetes. The results indicated that extracts IIa – IIIc, IIIa, and IIIb reduced blood serum glucose significantly on days 9 and especially 16 after the induction of diabetes. In addition, LDL cholesterol level was reduced markedly by using IIb, IIc and IIIc extracts. Serum cholesterol and TG were significantly decreased (especially by carbon tetrachloride and chloroform extracts) in IIc and IIIc animal groups compared to control and glibenclamide groups. These results can be related to more extracted sterols, fatty acids, polyols (or alcohols), phenols and flavonoids as well as antraquinones and terpenes by polar or non-polar organic solvents compared to aqueous extracts of these medicinal herbs.