Hepatoprotective and Hypolipidemic Effects of Carthamus tinctorius oil in Alloxan-induced Type 1 Diabetic Rats

Introduction: hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic effects of carthamus tinctorius linn.(safflower) seed oil was investigated in diabetic rats.methods: diabetes was induced by administration of 120 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate. the seed oil of safflower at dose of 200 mg/kg was administered as single dose per day to diabetic rats for a period of 28 days. the effect of oil on blood glucose level was measured in the diabetic rats. serum lipid profile [total cholesterol (tc), triglycerides (tgs), low density (ldl) and high density lipoprotein (hdl) and enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (alt), aspartate aminotransferase (ast) and alkaline phosphatase (alp) were also determined.results: levels of blood glucose, tc, tgs, ldl, alt, ast and alp decreased and hdl increased in alloxan induced diabetic rats after treatment with 200 mg/kg safflower seed oil for 28 days.conclusion: the present study demonstrates that seed oil of safflower seems to be useful for the prevention of diabetes complications.