Effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) on Lipid Profile of Diabetic Rats

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the hypoglycemic activity of the aqueous extract perfusion of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis Linn.) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The sugar level and lipid profile were investigated in plasma of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with rosemary for four weeks. Diabetic rats exhibited an increase in the levels of sugar, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), and a decrease in the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol). The administration of rosemary shows a decrease by 20% in sugar level, 22% in total cholesterol, 24% triglycerides, and by 27% in LDL- cholesterol, and an increase by 18% in HDL-cholesterol. The findings of this study indicate that the administration of rosemary resulted in a better lipid profile and decreased blood sugar level in both normal and diabetic rats.