Evaluation of the activity of two barley hybrids in reduction of blood glucose levels in diabetic albino rats

Marwa A. Desoukey**; S.M.M. Saad*; F.F.A. Foda*; Gamal N. Gabrial** and S.S. Mohamed**

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes. Many efforts are made to control this disease. Diet therapy is a very powerful mean to complete and enhance drug therapy to control blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Barley is a wonderful cereal grain. It is considered as a rich source of antioxidant and magnesium that acts as a cofactor for many enzymes involved in the glucose metabolism and insulin secretion. So, the present work aims to investigate the effect of new barley cultivars (barley Gemmiza & barley New valley) on some physiological parameters on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. STZ diabetic rats which were fed on diet mixed with 30% barley of the two hybrids for 30 days. Results showed that the use of 30% barley resulted in marked decrements in serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol. More over the liver and kidney markers were also improved in the groups that treated with barley relative to its diabetic group. The obtained results might recommend that barley can be utilized as an essential part of the diabetic patient’s diet.

Key words

barley- STZ- Diabetic rats -biological parameters- cholesterol.