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Horm Metab Res 2008; 40(1): 44-49
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-993218
Animals, Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prevention of Insulin Resistance by Ingesting Aqueous Extract of Ocimum sanctum to Fructose-fed Rats

S. S. Reddy 1 , R. Karuna 1 , R. Baskar 1 , D. Saralakumari 1
  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Further Information

Publication History

received 22.02.2007

accepted 11.07.2007

Publication Date:
18 December 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The study was aimed to examine if oral administration of the aqueous extract of the whole plant Ocimum sanctum (OS) protects against the development of insulin resistance in fructose fed rats. Male Wister rats were randomly divided into four groups of eight animals each: group-S (starch diet), group-F (fructose diet), group-F+OS (fructose diet along with Ocimum sanctum extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg), group-S+OS (starch diet along with Ocimum sanctum). During the experimental period of 60 days body weight, plasma glucose, insulin, and triglycerides were measured at an interval of 15 days. Insulin sensitivity was assessed at the end of experimental period by measuring glucose-insulin index, which is the product of the areas under the curve of glucose and insulin during oral glucose tolerance test. The nontoxic nature of OS was revealed by unaltered body weight, plasma glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels in group-S+OS when compared with group-S. A significant gain in body weight, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance were observed in group-F when compared with group-S. OS treatment prevented the observed fructose induced alterations in group-F+OS. In conclusion, our results suggests that oral administration of OS aqueous extract could delay the development of insulin resistance in rats and may be used as an adjuvant therapy for treating diabetic patients with insulin resistance.

Key words

insulin resistance - fructose diet - hyperglycemia - hyperinsulinemia - hypertriglyceridemia - oral glucose tolerance test

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Correspondence

Prof. D. Saralakumari

Department of Biochemistry

Sri Krishnadevaraya University

515 003 Anantapur

Andhra Pradesh

India

Phone: +91/85/54 25 58 79

Fax: +91/85/54 25 58 05

Email: skumari1@yahoo.co.in

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