Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2010.423.430Artemisia sieberi Growing in Jordan in Normal and Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats]]>IrshaidF. MansiK. AburjaiT. 92010139The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of essential oil extracted from aerial parts of Artemisia sieberi in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Fifty rats were divided into five groups of 10 each. Group I normal rats received 1 mL day-1 of dimethyl sulfoxide (control); group II normal rats received a single dose (80 mg kg-1 b.wt.) of essential oil extract of Artemisia sieberi; group III diabetic rats received 1 mL day-1 of dimethyl sulfoxide; group IV diabetic rats received the oil extract (80 mg kg-1 b.wt.); group V diabetic rats received metformin (14.2 mg kg-1 b.wt.). All treatments were orally administered once a day for six weeks. Changes in blood glucose concentration, body weight and food and water intake were measured and the data obtained were compared with that of metformin. The essential oil extract significantly (p<0.05) lowered blood glucose level as well as food and water intake in diabetic rats accompanied by an increase in body weight gain with no apparent side effect when compared with untreated diabetic rats. These effects were found to be closely similar to that of metformin, a common antidiabetic drug. On other hand, no apparent improvement on body weight gain in diabetic rats treated with metformin. In addition, for all parameters measured, the oil extract showed no effect in normal rats. In conclusion, the essential oil of Artemisia sieberi exhibited antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Present findings support the possible use of the essential oil of Artemisia sieberi as a remedy for diabetes mellitus in humans.]]>Abbasi, F., J.W. Chu, T. McLaughlin, C. Lamendola, E.T. Leary and G.M. Reaven,200453159164Afif, F.U. and B. Abu-Irmaileh,200072101110Al-Khalil, S.,199533317323Amr, A.,19952214751488Atkinson, M.A. and N.K. Maclaren,199433114281436Bakkali, F., S. Averbeck, D. Averbeck and M. Idaomar,200846446475Batubara, I., L.K. Darusman, T. Mitsunaga, M. Rahminiwati and E. Djauhari,201010138144Burt, S.,200494223253Ceriello, A.,20032615891596Ceriello, A., P.D. Russo, P. Amstad and P. Cerutti,199645471477Cheng, J.T., C.C. Huang, I.M. Liu, T.F. Tzeng and C.J. Chang,200655819825Giugliano, D., A. Ceriello and G. Paolisso,199619257267Digman, C., D. Borto and S.A. Jr. Nasraway,2005893101Hannon, T.S., G. Rao and S.A. Arslanian,2005116473480Hudaib, M. and T. Aburjai,2006Artemisia herba-alba growing in Jordan.]]>18301304Irshaid, F. and K. Mansi,2009Urtica pilulifera L. on male reproductive system of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.]]>42228Irshaid, F. and K. Mansi,2009Urtica pilulifera leaves on some hematological and biochemical parameters of diabetic rats.]]>4675681King, H., R.E. Aubert and W.H. Herman,19982114141431Luna, B. and M.N. Feinglos,20016317471756Mansi, K. and J. Lahham,2008Artemisia sieberi Besser (A. herba-alba) on heart rate and some hematological values in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats.]]>45762Marrif, H.I., B.H. Ali and K.M. Hassan,1995Artemisia herba-alba (Asso.) in rabbits and mice.]]>495155Mohamed, A.H.H., M.A. El-Sayed, M.E. Hegazy, S.E. Helaly, A.M. Esmail and N.S. Mohamed,2010Artemisia herba-alba.]]>4125Mithieux, G., L. Guignot, J.C. Bordet and N. Wiernsperger,200251139143Narayan, K.M.V., J.P. Boyle, T.J. Thompson, E.W. Gregg and D.F. Williamson,200329018841890Penckofer, S., D. Schwertz and K. Flerczak,2002166885Rahimi, R., S. Nikfar, B. Larijani and M. Abdollahi,200559365373Sabu, M.C. and R. Kuttan,200281155160Shah, S., S. Bodhankar, R. Bhonde and V. Mohan,200614104105Sherwin, S.R. and L. Sacca,1984247157165Szkudelski, T.,200150537546Vernin, G., O. Merad, G.M.F. Vernin, R.M. Zamkotsian and C. Parkanyi,1995Artemisia herba alba Asso essential oils from Algeria.]]>37147205WHO.,19801980Yao, X.H., L. Chen and B.L. Nyomba,2006100642648Zareba, G., N. Serradell, R. Castaner, S.L. Davies, J. Prous and N. Mealy,20053012531282