Biochemical Studies on the Effect of Volatile Oil of Thymus capitatus in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Administration of thyme oil @ 0.1 mL kg⁻¹ body weight orally once daily for 28 days to diabetic rats revealed progressively declined values of serum glucose from 483.30±1.35 mg% on day 0–113.20±1.00 mg% at the end of the trial. Serum total cholesterol levels revealed progressively inclining values till 21 days and thereafter declining to 107.40±1.20 mg% at the end of the trial. However, serum HDL, triglycerides, serum urea nitrogen and creatinine levels remained within normal limits as recorded in glibenclamide treated diabetic rats except a mild increase in ALT and AST levels was recorded on day 7. The histological findings revealed regenerative changes in the pancreas, liver and kidney. The present results demonstrated the antihyperglycemic and antilipidemic effects of thyme oil.