2.6. Experiment design and biological analyses
Group I consisted of 10 healthy normal rats, which received
500 mg/kg body weight of POCS every day. The streptozotocininduced
diabetic rats were divided into five groups of 10 animals
(Groups II–VI). Group II served as control and received water solution.
Group III served as positive control and received 600 mg/kg
body weight of dimethylbiguanide [3]. Groups IV–VI received 300,
400 and 500 mg/kg body weight of POCS, respectively. The rats
were intragastrically administered once daily for four weeks. The
water consumption and food intake were determined every two
days. The body weight was determined every week. They wereexpressed as ml/day (d), g/d and g, respectively. BG level was estimated
by the method of Li et al. [25] with some modifications every
two weeks. TC and TG levels in blood serum were measured spectrophotometrically
by the prescribed method after two and four
weeks [23]. The normal and diabetic rats were subjected to a short
fasting period for 3–5 h, and then the rats were administered by
the POCS for 4 weeks. Meanwhile, the rats of all the groups were
given glucose 2.0 g/kg after 15–20 min of the POCS and dimethylbiguanide
administration. The blood glucose levels (mmol/L) were
also recorded prior to the glucose administration 0, 0.5 and 2 h
[4].