Preventive and curative effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seeds in C57BL/6J models of type 2 diabetes induced by high-fat diet

J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Jul 13;142(2):516-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.05.028. Epub 2012 May 23.

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (TFG) is traditionally used to treat diabetes in North Africa. we therefore tested the effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of TFG seeds in a C57/BL6J mouse model of diabetes induced by a standardised high-fat diet (HFD).

Materials and methods: Plant extracts (2 g/kg daily) were administered orally by gavage at the start of HFD, or after confirmation of established diabetes (17th week), for 20 or 18 weeks, respectively, to male C57BL/6J mice. Animals were weighed; food intake and plasma glucose, lipid profile, insulin and insulin resistance were measured.

Results: TFG extracts opposed the development of diabetes: compared with untreated HFD mice, TFG-treated HFD mice had lower mean (± SD) plasma glucose (129.3 ± 39.4 vs. 183.1 ± 19.1mg/dL, p<0.05), plasma insulin (1.3 ± 0.8 vs. 3.1 ± 1.8 ng/mL, p<0.05) and triglycerides (18.9 ± 12.9 vs. 48.9 ± 12.1mg/dL, p<0.05), and less insulin resistance as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA: 9.7 ± 11.1 vs. 38.3 ± 26.6, p<0.05). In mice with established diabetes, TFG reduced fasting plasma glucose (170.4 ± 24.1 vs. 229.0 ± 20.8 mg/dL, p<0.05), plasma insulin (1.7 ± 1.3 vs. 3.3 ± 14.3 ng/mL, p<0.05) and insulin resistance (HOMA: TFG: 19.2 ± 15.7 vs. HFD control: 38.5 ± 30.3, p<0.05). In addition, administration of TFG extract also caused significant reduction in triglycerides (17.9 ± 9.7 vs. 62.8 ± 18.3 mg/dL, p<0.05) and total cholesterol (1.30 ± 0.20 vs. 1.80 ± 1.10 g/L, p<0.05), and an increase in HDL-cholesterol (1.6 ± 0.2 vs. 1.2 ± 0.1 g/L). The plant extract had no effect on calorie intake or body weight.

Conclusion: TFG extract opposed the development of experimental HFD diabetes in mice, and had an anti-diabetic effect in mice with established diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / etiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / prevention & control
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / blood*
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Seeds
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Trigonella*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Plant Extracts
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol