Modulation of hyperglycemia by oat extracts: An experimental study

Recent studies show that there is a correlation between immune status of the individuals and glycemic levels and both can be modulated together by the same agents. Hence, in the present study the modulation of the immune response as well as blood glucose levels of oat, a cereal containing beta-glucan was checked. Aqueous extracts of seeds and leaves of oat and commercially available beta-glucan was given intraperitoneally in swiss albino mice. The alterations in cell-mediated immune response and humoral immune response were checked as well as glucose levels were monitored before and after the inoculation of modulatory agents. In addition, the bioactivity i.e. immuno-potentiation and hypoglycemic index were found to be proportional to beta-glucan.