الفهرس 
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Abstract
Ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia (BM), Trigonella foenum-graecum (TG), Ginseng, Myrrh were used to investigate their antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic albino rats. The extracts were given to STZ induced diabetic rats at the concentration of 500mg/kg, 50mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 50mg/kg body weight respectively in different groups, orally once a day for 4 weeks. Cidophage is also given to another group to support the results at the concentration of 500mg/kg body weight orally once a day for 4 weeks. The results reveled that oral administration of plant extracts significantly reduced glucose levels in the following order: cidophage, bitter melon, fenugreek, ginseng and myrrh as compared with healthy control rats. Insulin secretion was stimulated after 4 weeks of treatment with cidophage, bitter melon, fenugreek, ginseng and myrrh as compared with control group. Levels of the liver enzymes AST and ALT were normalized with bitter melon and fenugreek treatment in a similar degree as with cidophage, suggesting an improvement in liver functions. Creatinine levels were normalized in all treated groups. Regarding to lipid profile, there were decreases in liver cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL in diabetic rats after treatment with extracts. On the other hand, HDL levels were increased in the following order bitter melon, cidophage, fenugreek, ginseng and myrrh respectively. Serum nitric oxide and malonaldehyde levels were reduced in all treated groups. Levels of the anti-oxidant GSH were increased in all treated groups. Evan’s Blue extravasation test (as a measure of peripheral capillary permeability) significantly increased in the skin of diabetic animals. This effect was restored by ethanolic extracts of bitter melon, and fenugreek respectively. The diabetic group also showed delayed wound healing compared with the treated diabetic group as measured by histopathological observation. Applying the experimental extracts accelerated the rate of wound closure, indicating the beneficial role of the bitter melon and fenugreek extracts in the healing process of the diabetic wound. Histopathological examination of pancreas from diabetic rats showed shrunken islets and their shape were destroyed with infiltration of lymphocytes compared to control group. In the mean time, animals treated with the experimental extracts showed bigger and comparable islets to that of normal rats. The enlargement of islets in diabetic animals post treatment was higher in bitter melon-treated group followed by fenugreek-group. It was concluded that the ethanolic extracts of bitter melon, and fenugreek exhibit promising and safe anti-diabetic activity especially on peripheral circulation as manifested by decreased peripheral capillary permeability and accelerated wound healing in an animal model of type-1 DM. Hence, it may be pursued for their clinical usefulness in the management of diabetes mellitus and other associated complications.