Key Words: Fructose, insulin resistance, Urtica dioica Introduction Diabetes mellitus

occurs when the body can’t use glucose normally, and is associated with increased serum triglycerides, decreased serum HDL and sometimes increased serum LDL.1 According to ancient medical texts, Urtica dioica may be used for the treatment of high blood sugar.2 Hypoglycemic activity of Urtica dioica was detected in a large pharmacological screen of European species with known potential anti-diabetic effects.3 It has also been reported that the extract of the leaves or other parts of Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the plan were of benefits in conditions such as prostatic hyperplasia, learn more Inflammation, arthritis rheumatoid, hypertension and allergic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical rhinitis.4 Urtica dioica has been reported to have histamine, formic acid, acetylcholine, acetic acid, butyric acid, leukotrienes, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and other irritants.5,6 This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Urtica dioica leaf extract on blood glucose, lipid profile, insulin and leptin in rat model of fructose-induced insulin resistance. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Materials and Methods Animal

Maintenance Forty male Wistar rats, weighting 200-250 g were obtained from the Animal Breeding Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, and were kept under standard conditions (12/12 light-dark cycle, 20-24oC, 55% humidity) with free access to water and food. All procedures were performed in accordance with the University guidelines Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical for care and use of laboratory animals. Plant Extraction Urtica dioica was collected around the city of Ahwaz and identified by a faculty of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The leaves were dried under the shade and ground to powder by an electrical grinder. The extraction was prepared using maceration method. The powder was macerated for 72 hours at

room temperature using 70% ethanol and 30% water. The mixture was filtered with Whatman filter paper (No 1), and the filtrate was centrifuged Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical at 3000 rpm for 20 min. The supernatant was evaporated at ambient temperature and the extract powder (15.1% of leaf powder) was kept at 4˚C until used.7 Experimental Studies One over group of rats was assigned as sham group (n=8) and given tap water. Thirty two rats, given daily fresh fructose 10% in drinking water,8 for eight weeks. Starting from the 6th week, they were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 each) including a control receiving intraperitoneal (IP) vehicle for Urtica dioica, and three other groups receiving single administrations of IP hydro-alcoholic extract of Urtica dioica at 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg.9 Twenty four hours after the last IP injection, the animals were lightly anesthetized and blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture.