The protective effect of Satureja bachtiarica hydroalcoholic extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetes through modulating glucose transporter 2 and 4 expression and inhibiting oxidative stress

Context: Oxidative stress plays an important role in development of diabetes mellitus. Satureja bachtiarica Bunge (Lamiaceae) is a rich source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. Objective: This study investigates the antidiabetic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of S. bachtiarica. Methods and materials: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 8) including control (normal saline), diabetic [Streptozotocin (STZ)], intervention (STZ plus hydroalcoholic extract of S. bachtiarica at doses of 75, 150 and 250 mg/kg/d) and positive control (STZ plus captopril 50 mg/kg/d) groups. A single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of STZ (60 mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes and IP therapy with drugs was performed for four weeks. Results: In diabetic rats, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) decreased significantly, but glucose, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly as compared to the control (p < 0.05). Treatment with extract (250 mg/kg) caused a significant decline in serum glucose, GGT, ALT, AST and MDA as well as a significant increase in serum TAC (p < 0.05). During the intervention period, diabetic rats showed significant weight loss, but extract (250 mg/kg) treated rats did not show any weight loss. Extract (250 mg/kg) up-regulated GLUT2 expression and down-regulated GLUT4 expression in the liver (p < 0.05). S. bachtiarica extract at all dosage levels prevented STZ-induced histological damage of liver, kidney and pancreas. Discussion and conclusions: S. bachtiarica extract exhibits antidiabetic effects through modulation of oxidative stress and expression of GLUT2 and GLUT4.