Abdolrasoul Namjou - Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
Esfandiar Heidarian - Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Mahmoud Rafieian-kopaei - Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

In this study, the effects of Urtica dioica hydro-alcoholic extract were investigated on the blood glucose and lipid profiles of female ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized rats. In total, ۳۲ adult female rats were divided into four groups (eight each) including control and ovariectomy groups as well as non-ovariectomy and ovariectomy groups treated with ۲۰۰ mg kg-۱ of Urtica dioica extract orally in the last five weeks of the study starting from the week ۵۶th. The duration of the study was ۶۰ weeks. Glucose, serum lipid profiles and pancreatic pathological alterations were determined in these groups at the end of experiment. Serum glucose, triglyceride (TG), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and TG/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio indicated a significant increase in the healthy female rats under treatment with Urtica dioica extract compared to others. The TG, cholesterol, HDL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and VLDL showed a significant increase in menopaused rats compared to others. The interaction of consuming Urtica dioica extract and ovariectomy caused significant decreases in glucose, TG, VLDL, HDL/LDL ratio and TG/HDL ratio. Consumption of Urtica dioica extract by non-menopaused rats damaged the beta cells in Langerhans islets. Results of the present study revealed that the consumption of Urtica dioica extract is not beneficial and has diabetogenic effects in female non-ovariectomized rats compared to ovariectomized ones.

Glucose, Lipid profiles, Ovariectomy, Rat, Urtica dioica