Effect of Volatile Oils of Some Medical Plants on the Blood Glucose and Cholesterol Levels in Mice

Abstract

The aims of This experiment were to study the effect of volatile oils from three types of plants which are: Nigella sativa, Foeniculum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis, They are well known medical plants and they are used commonly in traditional medicine.Volatile oils extracted by steam distillation. The biological activity studied In-vivo by oral administration of volatile oils into BALB / C male mice at doses of (0, 1, 2, 3, 4) mg / g BW for (7, 14, 21, 28) days.Serum glucose level was decreased by volatile oil of Nigella sativa at dose (2 mg/ g BW) or more. The blood glucose levels was (94.5 ± 1.24 mg/ 100 ml blood) as compared to control group (129.8 ± 0.98 mg/ 100 ml blood). No significant difference in glucose level was noticed between control group and group 3 and 4 at the treatment with volatile oil of Foeniculum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis respectively.The study showed that the volatile oil of Rosmarinus officinalis caused significant reduction in blood cholesterol level at dose of (3 and 4 mg/ g BW) for (14 days) or more. The cholesterol level was (134 ± 1.82 and 128.9 ± 2.32) mg/ 100 ml blood respectively as compared to control group (159.87 ± 0.91) mg/ 100 ml blood.