Hypoglycemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of Foeniculum vulgare Miller Seed Fixed Oil Extract inMice and Rats

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate median lethal dose
(LD50) and hypoglycemic effect of fixed oil of
Foeniculum vulgare Miller seed fixed oil (FFO) in mice
and its hepatoprotective effect on carbon tetrachloride
(CCl4) induced liver injury model in rats.
Method: Extract of FFO, glibenclamide (as a reference
group) and physiologic saline (control group) were
administrated to the healthy and diabet occured mice
with alloxan. Before treatment in the first, second, third,
fourth and 24th hours, blood was taken from the vena
coccygea of mice. Blood glucose levels were
measured.
Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into
four groups (n=6), and the groups treated daily for
seven days, by i.p. injections, of isotonic saline solution
(ISS), olive oil, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), CCl4 + FFO
respectively.
Results:  FFO did not significantly reduced blood
glucose in alloxane-induced diabetic mice compared
to ISS control group. In contrast, glibenclamide
effectively reduced blood glucose of alloxane-induced
mice in first, second, fourth and 24th hours as expected.
In the CCl4-treated group and FFO-treated group serum
aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase
(ALP) levels were quite high. In contrast, the control
groups (group I and group II) had significantly lower
levels of AST and ALT when compared with the CCl4
and FFO groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that FFO
has neither a potent hepatoprotective effect against
CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats nor a
hypoglycemic action in mice. The LD50 of FFO was
determined as 5.52 mL/kg.
Key words: Foeniculum vulgare Miller, fennel fixed oil,
median lethal dose, hepatoprotective effect, hypoglycemic
effect.

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