Salvigenin has Potential to Ameliorate Streptozotocin-induced Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Complications in Rats

Objectives: Flavonoids are the active ingredients, found in herbal remedies for amelioration the variety of disorders. Salvigenin is a plant flavenoid, which is found in Salvia officinalis. Salvigenin has an antioxidant, anti-inflamatory, anti-tumor and vascular relaxant activities. This study was conducted to evaluate the possible antidiabetic and cardioprotective effects of salvigenin.

Materials and Methods: 32 wistar rats were made diabetic using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.). Rats were divided into four groups that treated with salvigenin at doses of 5, 10 or 25 mg/kg. All the treatments were administered orally for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the blood samples were collected for determining the FBS, HbA1C, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL. After 72 hrs, animals were anesthetized; hearts were removed quickly and mounted on Langendorff apparatus. The max pressure, heart rate, max dP/dt, contractility index and coronary flow were measured.

Results: Administration of salvigenin exhibited a significant reduction in fasting serum glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HbA1c and increased level of plasma insulin and HDL in diabetic rats (P<0/05). Salvigenin could significantly increased hemodynamic indices such as max pressure, max dP/dt, contractility and coronary flow (P<0/05).

Conclusion: Salvigenin improved diabetes through decreasing blood glucose, lipid profile, HbA1c. Increased insulin secretion can be a mechanism for antidiabetic effect of salvigenin. Regarding the antidiabetic and cardioprotective effects of salvigenin, it can be concluded that this flavonoid compound can be potentially used to reduce diabetes and it’s cardiovascular complications.