| Objectives: Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia have major roles in the incidence or development of diabetes mellitus complications. Regarding the side effects of diabetes treatment, patients seek natural, economical, and more effective treatments. In the current study, we investigated the effects of separate and concurrent supplementation of natural nano-sized clinoptilolite (NCLN) and Nigella sativa (NS) on blood glucose and lipid profile (LP) in high-fat-diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats divided into two groups as diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Diabetic group was fed with HFD for 1 month and then was injected intraperitoneal single dose STZ (35 mg/kg BW). After a week, the oral glucose tolerance test and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) test were carried out to confirm diabetes. Diabetic group was divided to 4 subgroups: [1] control (n=9), [2] NS 1g/kg (n=9), [3] NCLN 1 gr/kg (n=9), [4] NS 1g/kg + NCLN 1 gr/kg (n=9). In the end, 7th week, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were tested. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16 and P <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Results showed that hyperglycemia is reduced significantly in NS (P<0.05) and NS + NCLN (P<0.05) groups. In addition, supplementation with NS reduced HOMA-IR near to normal range. Any of supplementation had no significant effect on LP.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, NS exerts a significant hypoglycemic effect in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic rats while simultaneous supplementation of NS and NCLN had no synergistic effect on hyperglycemia. |