ANTIDIABETIC and ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS of Vitis vinifera L. LEAVES in STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC RATS

In the present study the acute and subacute antidiabetic activities of the ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera L. leaves were investigated. The acute effect was studied on the normoglycaemic, glucose hyperglycaemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats; and the subacute effect was studied on same diabetic rats for 15 days. The blood glucose levels were measured by using blood glucose measuring strips based on glucose-oxidase method. After the subacute administration, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was investigated on the liver, kidney and the heart tissues of the experimental animals by measuring the tissue GSH and MDA levels. All of the antioxidant parameters were compared with the diabetic control group. According to the obtained data, the ethanolic extract of V. vinifera leaves at 250 mg/kg dose was found to possess a high antidiabetic and antioxidant activity. Mainly condensed tannins and flavonoids were suggested to contribute in the activities.