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The present study was designed to investigate the antihyperglycemic effect of Umbelliferone (UMB) in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male albino rats of the Wistar strain, weighing 180-200 g, by administration of STZ (40 mg/kg of body weight) intraperitoneally. Diabetic rats showed an increase in levels of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and activities of gluconeogenic enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and a decrease in levels of plasma insulin, hemoglobin (Hb), and liver glycogen and activities of glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Intraperitoneal administration of UMB (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg of body weight) and glibenclamide (600 micro g/kg of body weight) in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide dissolved in water, for 45 days, produced significantly decreased levels of blood glucose and HbA(1c) and activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, while elevating levels of plasma insulin, Hb, and liver glycogen and activities of glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase to near normal levels in STZ-diabetic rats when compared with normal control rats. Normal rats treated with UMB (30 mg/kg of body weight) also showed a significant effect on glycemic control. Thus, our results show that UMB at 30 mg/kg of body weight possesses a promising antihyperglycemic effect that is comparable with glibenclamide.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of sesame oil in hypertensive diabetics medicated with atenolol (beta-blocker) and glibenclamide (sulfonylurea). This open label trial with two intervention periods comprised 22 male and 18 female patients, 45-65 years old, with mild to moderate hypertension and diabetes. Sesame oil (Idhayam Gingelly oil, V.V.V. & Sons, Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu, India) was supplied to the patients, who were instructed to use it in place of other cooking oils for 45 days. Blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measurements, plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profiles [total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG)], lipid peroxidation [thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)], electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride), and enzymic (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) and nonenzymic (vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and reduced glutathione) antioxidants were measured at baseline and after 45 days of sesame oil substitution. The same patients were then switched over to other oils like palm or groundnut oils as their regular oils at random for another 45 days, and the investigations were carried out again at the end. Systolic and diastolic BP decreased remarkably. When oil substitution was withdrawn, BP values rose again. Body weight, body mass index, girth of waist, girth of hip, and waist:hip ratio were reduced upon substitution of sesame oil. Plasma glucose, HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, and TG were decreased. TBARS level was reduced, while the activities of enzymic and the levels of nonenzymic antioxidants were increased. Plasma sodium levels were reduced, while potassium levels were elevated. These results indicate that substitution of sesame oil as the sole edible oil has an additive effect in further lowering BP and plasma glucose in hypertensive diabetics.

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Carvacrol (2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-phenol) is a predominant monoterpenic phenol which occurs in many essential oils of the family Labiatae including Origanum, Satureja, Thymbra, Thymus, and Corydothymus species. This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of carvacrol on D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage in male albino Wistar rats. D-GalN hepatotoxic rats exhibited elevation in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and lipidperoxidative markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides. Activities of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, and reduced glutathione) in the plasma, erythrocytes, liver, and kidney decreased in the hepatotoxic rats. Oral administration of carvacrol for 21 days brought these parameters towards normal. The biochemical observations were supported by histological studies of rat liver and kidney tissues. These results suggest that carvacrol could afford a significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect against D-GalN-induced rats.

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