The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of fenugreek leaves, an indigenous
plant widely used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, in streptozotocin induced
diabetic rats. Supplementation of the diet with fenugreek leaves showed a significant effect on hyperglycaemia,
hypoinsulinaemia and glycosylated haemoglobin in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Fenugreek leaves improved
the body weight and liver glycogen. Fenugreek leaves also showed a significant effect on key carbohydrate metabolic
enzymes in diabetic rats. The effect of fenugreek leaves was found to be similar to that of glibenclamide.
Thus, fenugreek leaves exhibited antidiabetic action in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Insulin restored
all the parameters to near normal levels in diabetic rats.