Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil components exhibit anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects in experimental diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: The present study aims to investigate the protective effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oils (ROEO) against alloxan-induced diabetes and oxidative stress in rats.

METHODS: The animals were divided into four groups: Healthy Control (HC); Diabetic Control (DC); Healthy+ROEO (H+ROEO) and Diabetic+ROEO (D+ROEO).

RESULTS: The use of GC/MS technique has allowed us to identify fifteen compounds in ROEO. We have found that alloxan administration induced hyperglycaemia, lipid metabolic parameters deregulation as well as liver and kidney dysfunctions. Alloxan administration has also induced an oxidative stress status as assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) content increase, thiol groups (-SH) level decrease and antioxidant enzyme activities depletion such as catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD and Fe-SOD in both liver and kidney tissues. More importantly subacute (15days) ROEO administration has significantly corrected all biochemical alterations induced by alloxan intoxication.

CONCLUSIONS: We propose that Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils exhibit protective effects in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemia as well as protecting against liver and kidney oxidative stress in rats, reflecting its antioxidant properties.