Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Chamomile Powder and Oil with High Fat High Fructose diet in rats

The objective of this work was to study the effect of chamomile powder and oil against high fat, high fructose diet induced-metabolic disturbances in rats. Thirty six male rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups for 6 weeks as following: Group (I): normal control rats (-ve) fed on basal diet, Group (II): received basal diet contained chamomile powder 20 g /kg/ diet, Group (III): received basal diet contained chamomile essential oil 2 g /kg/ diet, Group (IV):(+ve) control: high fat diet and high fructose drinking (HF&HFr), Group (V): (+ve) and received chamomile powder 20 g /kg/ diet, Group (VI): (+ve) and received chamomile oil 2 ml /kg/ diet After 6 weeks, body weight, BMI, blood glucose, serum insulin, and calculated HOMA-index, lipid profile, leptin, resistin, TNF-α , total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant capacity were analyzed in the study male rats. Results showed high phenolic content in chamomile powder as well as estimate volatile components. chamomile powder and oil showed significant decrease in blood glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-index, leptin, resistin, TNF-α, total oxidant capacity while increasing the total antioxidant capacity in addition to lipid profile normalization in groups that received high fructose high fat diet containing chamomile powder and oil as compared to (+ve) control. It can be concluded that consumption of chamomile powder and oil can improve the lipid profile, reduce insulin resistance, blood glucose level and inflammatory cytokines as well as it can protect the body from the oxidative stress, related to their phenolic compounds. Thus, chamomile consumption has a beneficial effect in control and management of diabetes and diabetes associated complications with no risk of hypoglycemic effect.