The effect of oral administration of Carum carvi on weight, serum glucose, and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of oral administration of caraway (Carum carvi) on the blood glucose level, lipid profile, and the weight of diabetic rats.

METHODS: This investigation was carried out in Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran between April and June 2010. Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal, diabetic, and caraway treated diabetic groups and were studied for 3 weeks. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin. Caraway was given orally at a dose of 1g/kg body weight daily, and the body weight of animals was measured every day. Blood samples were collected and blood glucose levels and lipid profile were determined.

RESULTS: The results showed that oral administration of caraway caused a significant decrease in blood glucose level of treated rats (p = 0.001) and alleviated their body weight loss (p = 0.037). Furthermore, it caused significant decrease in total cholesterol (p = 0.036), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.001) in the treated animals compared with the diabetic control rats, and with no significant change in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Caraway has both antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in diabetic rats. Nevertheless, it is not recommended before further investigations in animals and humans.