Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effect of Essential Oil of Varthemia iphionoides in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect of Varthemia iphionoides essential oil at dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight was investigated for two weeks in streptozotocin-induced diabetic experimental rats. 21 albino rats weighing 190-200g were randomlly divided into three groups of seven rats: group A as acontrol, group B diabetic rats and group C diabetic treated with essential oil of V.iphionoides. Cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose levels and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated. The administration of essential oil extract of V. iphionoides significantly reduced blood glucose and total cholesterol level in diabetic rats compared to the control group, while there is no significant change in the triglycerides level. The activities of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased and decrease the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) It can be concluded that the essential oil of V.iphionoides has significant normalization of blood glucose range and exhibit good effect in lowering cholesterol levels. Taking together, decreasing in MDA and increasing in SOD levels clearly shows the antioxidant property of Varthemia iphionoides