Ethnopharmacological relevance: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a natural sweetener plant known as “Sweet Leaf”, “Sweet Herbs” and “Honey Leaf”, which is estimated to be 300 times more sweetening than sugar cane. Stevia has been used as a traditional treatment for diabetes in many countries for hundreds of years. Several animal studies referred to the antihyperglycemic activity of stevia. However, the combined use of stevia with saxagliptin has not been studied so far, so this study has been done. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of stevia alone and in combination with saxagliptin. Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced in rats by i.p. injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains eight rats. Group I: included negative controland group II: included diabetic control that received saline. Group III: included diabetic rats that received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract. Group IV: included diabetic rats that received saxagliptin 10 mg/kg/day. Group V: included diabetic rats that received stevia 400 mg/kg + saxagliptin 10 mg/kg. Food and water intake were measured daily while body weight was measured weekly. After 3 weeks animals were sacrificed and blood and tissue samples were collected. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, serum dipeptidylepeptidase-4 (DPP-4), TC, TGs, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured in treated and control rats by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Results: Both stevia and saxagliptin significantly reduced food, water intake, body weight and FBG. Stevia with saxagliptin produced more significant decrease in FBG. While serum insulin increased significantly in stevia, saxagliptin treated groups and their combination. Serum DPP-4 decreased significantly in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and saxagliptin notably lowered TC, TGs, and LDL and increased HDL. Both stevia and saxagliptin remarkably decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of saxagliptin. Conclusion: Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could enhance the antidiabetic activity of saxagliptin. DPP-4 attenuation, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity as well as improvement of insulin sensitivity may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a natural sweetener plant known as “Sweet Leaf”, “Sweet Herbs” and “Honey Leaf”, which is estimated to be 300 times more sweetening than sugar cane. Stevia has been used as a traditional treatment for diabetes in many countries for hundreds of years. Several animal studies referred to the antihyperglycemic activity of stevia. However, the combined use of stevia with saxagliptin has not been studied so far, so this study has been done. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of stevia alone and in combination with saxagliptin. Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced in rats by i.p. injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains eight rats. Group I: included negative controland group II: included diabetic control that received saline. Group III: included diabetic rats that received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract. Group IV: included diabetic rats that received saxagliptin 10 mg/kg/day. Group V: included diabetic rats that received stevia 400 mg/kg + saxagliptin 10 mg/kg. Food and water intake were measured daily while body weight was measured weekly. After 3 weeks animals were sacrificed and blood and tissue samples were collected. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, serum dipeptidylepeptidase-4 (DPP-4), TC, TGs, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured in treated and control rats by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Results: Both stevia and saxagliptin significantly reduced food, water intake, body weight and FBG. Stevia with saxagliptin produced more significant decrease in FBG. While serum insulin increased significantly in stevia, saxagliptin treated groups and their combination. Serum DPP-4 decreased significantly in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and saxagliptin notably lowered TC, TGs, and LDL and increased HDL. Both stevia and saxagliptin remarkably decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of saxagliptin. Conclusion: Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could enhance the antidiabetic activity of saxagliptin. DPP-4 attenuation, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity as well as improvement of insulin sensitivity may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a natural sweetener plant known as “Sweet Leaf”, “Sweet Herbs” and “Honey Leaf”, which is estimated to be 300 times more sweetening than sugar cane. Stevia has been used as a traditional treatment for diabetes in many countries for hundreds of years. Several animal studies referred to the antihyperglycemic activity of stevia. However, the combined use of stevia with saxagliptin has not been studied so far, so this study has been done. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of stevia alone and in combination with saxagliptin. Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced in rats by i.p. injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains eight rats. Group I: included negative controland group II: included diabetic control that received saline. Group III: included diabetic rats that received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract. Group IV: included diabetic rats that received saxagliptin 10 mg/kg/day. Group V: included diabetic rats that received stevia 400 mg/kg + saxagliptin 10 mg/kg. Food and water intake were measured daily while body weight was measured weekly. After 3 weeks animals were sacrificed and blood and tissue samples were collected. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, serum dipeptidylepeptidase-4 (DPP-4), TC, TGs, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured in treated and control rats by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Results: Both stevia and saxagliptin significantly reduced food, water intake, body weight and FBG. Stevia with saxagliptin produced more significant decrease in FBG. While serum insulin increased significantly in stevia, saxagliptin treated groups and their combination. Serum DPP-4 decreased significantly in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and saxagliptin notably lowered TC, TGs, and LDL and increased HDL. Both stevia and saxagliptin remarkably decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of saxagliptin. Conclusion: Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could enhance the antidiabetic activity of saxagliptin. DPP-4 attenuation, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity as well as improvement of insulin sensitivity may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a natural sweetener plant known as “Sweet Leaf”, “Sweet Herbs” and “Honey Leaf”, which is estimated to be 300 times more sweetening than sugar cane. Stevia has been used as a traditional treatment for diabetes in many countries for hundreds of years. Several animal studies referred to the antihyperglycemic activity of stevia. However, the combined use of stevia with saxagliptin has not been studied so far, so this study has been done. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of stevia alone and in combination with saxagliptin. Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced in rats by i.p. injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains eight rats. Group I: included negative controland group II: included diabetic control that received saline. Group III: included diabetic rats that received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract. Group IV: included diabetic rats that received saxagliptin 10 mg/kg/day. Group V: included diabetic rats that received stevia 400 mg/kg + saxagliptin 10 mg/kg. Food and water intake were measured daily while body weight was measured weekly. After 3 weeks animals were sacrificed and blood and tissue samples were collected. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, serum dipeptidylepeptidase-4 (DPP-4), TC, TGs, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured in treated and control rats by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Results: Both stevia and saxagliptin significantly reduced food, water intake, body weight and FBG. Stevia with saxagliptin produced more significant decrease in FBG. While serum insulin increased significantly in stevia, saxagliptin treated groups and their combination. Serum DPP-4 decreased significantly in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and saxagliptin notably lowered TC, TGs, and LDL and increased HDL. Both stevia and saxagliptin remarkably decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of saxagliptin. Conclusion: Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could enhance the antidiabetic activity of saxagliptin. DPP-4 attenuation, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity as well as improvement of insulin sensitivity may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that threatens the whole world. According to WHO reports, the prevalence of diabetic patients in egyptis expected to increase from 2,623,000 in 2000 to be 6,726,000 in 2030. Metformin is the first line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. However, the concomitant use of metformin with stevia needs more investigation to clarify the role of this combination as a new strategy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by i.p. injection of STZ and NA. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains 8 rats. Group I: negative control, group II: diabetic control received saline, group III: diabetic rats received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract, group IV: diabetic rats received metformin 250 mg/kg/day, group V: diabetic rats received stevia 400 mg/kg/day + metformin 250 mg/kg/day. After 3 weeks blood samples were collected, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. Biochemical parameters including FBG, serum insulin, serum DPP-4, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Both stevia and metformin significantly reduced FBG level. While serum insulin significantly increased. Serum DPP-4 was significantly reduced in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and metformin significantly lowered TC, TG, LDLand increased HDL. Both stevia and metformin significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of metformin. Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could increase the antidiabetic activity of metformin. DPP-4 attenuation, antioxidant and insulin-sensitizing effects may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia. Regarding lipid profile stevia showed hypolipidemic effect.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that threatens the whole world. According to WHO reports, the prevalence of diabetic patients in egyptis expected to increase from 2,623,000 in 2000 to be 6,726,000 in 2030. Metformin is the first line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. However, the concomitant use of metformin with stevia needs more investigation to clarify the role of this combination as a new strategy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by i.p. injection of STZ and NA. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains 8 rats. Group I: negative control, group II: diabetic control received saline, group III: diabetic rats received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract, group IV: diabetic rats received metformin 250 mg/kg/day, group V: diabetic rats received stevia 400 mg/kg/day + metformin 250 mg/kg/day. After 3 weeks blood samples were collected, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. Biochemical parameters including FBG, serum insulin, serum DPP-4, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Both stevia and metformin significantly reduced FBG level. While serum insulin significantly increased. Serum DPP-4 was significantly reduced in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and metformin significantly lowered TC, TG, LDLand increased HDL. Both stevia and metformin significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of metformin. Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could increase the antidiabetic activity of metformin. DPP-4 attenuation, antioxidant and insulin-sensitizing effects may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia. Regarding lipid profile stevia showed hypolipidemic effect.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that threatens the whole world. According to WHO reports, the prevalence of diabetic patients in egyptis expected to increase from 2,623,000 in 2000 to be 6,726,000 in 2030. Metformin is the first line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. However, the concomitant use of metformin with stevia needs more investigation to clarify the role of this combination as a new strategy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by i.p. injection of STZ and NA. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains 8 rats. Group I: negative control, group II: diabetic control received saline, group III: diabetic rats received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract, group IV: diabetic rats received metformin 250 mg/kg/day, group V: diabetic rats received stevia 400 mg/kg/day + metformin 250 mg/kg/day. After 3 weeks blood samples were collected, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. Biochemical parameters including FBG, serum insulin, serum DPP-4, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Both stevia and metformin significantly reduced FBG level. While serum insulin significantly increased. Serum DPP-4 was significantly reduced in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and metformin significantly lowered TC, TG, LDLand increased HDL. Both stevia and metformin significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of metformin. Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could increase the antidiabetic activity of metformin. DPP-4 attenuation, antioxidant and insulin-sensitizing effects may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia. Regarding lipid profile stevia showed hypolipidemic effect.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that threatens the whole world. According to WHO reports, the prevalence of diabetic patients in egyptis expected to increase from 2,623,000 in 2000 to be 6,726,000 in 2030. Metformin is the first line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. However, the concomitant use of metformin with stevia needs more investigation to clarify the role of this combination as a new strategy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by i.p. injection of STZ and NA. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains 8 rats. Group I: negative control, group II: diabetic control received saline, group III: diabetic rats received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract, group IV: diabetic rats received metformin 250 mg/kg/day, group V: diabetic rats received stevia 400 mg/kg/day + metformin 250 mg/kg/day. After 3 weeks blood samples were collected, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. Biochemical parameters including FBG, serum insulin, serum DPP-4, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Both stevia and metformin significantly reduced FBG level. While serum insulin significantly increased. Serum DPP-4 was significantly reduced in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and metformin significantly lowered TC, TG, LDLand increased HDL. Both stevia and metformin significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of metformin. Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could increase the antidiabetic activity of metformin. DPP-4 attenuation, antioxidant and insulin-sensitizing effects may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia. Regarding lipid profile stevia showed hypolipidemic effect.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that threatens the whole world. According to WHO reports, the prevalence of diabetic patients in egyptis expected to increase from 2,623,000 in 2000 to be 6,726,000 in 2030. Metformin is the first line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. However, the concomitant use of metformin with stevia needs more investigation to clarify the role of this combination as a new strategy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by i.p. injection of STZ and NA. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains 8 rats. Group I: negative control, group II: diabetic control received saline, group III: diabetic rats received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract, group IV: diabetic rats received metformin 250 mg/kg/day, group V: diabetic rats received stevia 400 mg/kg/day + metformin 250 mg/kg/day. After 3 weeks blood samples were collected, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. Biochemical parameters including FBG, serum insulin, serum DPP-4, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Both stevia and metformin significantly reduced FBG level. While serum insulin significantly increased. Serum DPP-4 was significantly reduced in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and metformin significantly lowered TC, TG, LDLand increased HDL. Both stevia and metformin significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of metformin. Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could increase the antidiabetic activity of metformin. DPP-4 attenuation, antioxidant and insulin-sensitizing effects may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia. Regarding lipid profile stevia showed hypolipidemic effect.

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that threatens the whole world. According to WHO reports, the prevalence of diabetic patients in egyptis expected to increase from 2,623,000 in 2000 to be 6,726,000 in 2030. Metformin is the first line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. However, the concomitant use of metformin with stevia needs more investigation to clarify the role of this combination as a new strategy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by i.p. injection of STZ and NA. Animals were divided into five groups, each contains 8 rats. Group I: negative control, group II: diabetic control received saline, group III: diabetic rats received 400 mg/kg/day stevia aqueous extract, group IV: diabetic rats received metformin 250 mg/kg/day, group V: diabetic rats received stevia 400 mg/kg/day + metformin 250 mg/kg/day. After 3 weeks blood samples were collected, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. Biochemical parameters including FBG, serum insulin, serum DPP-4, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, GSH and MDA were measured by colorimetric and ELISA methods. Both stevia and metformin significantly reduced FBG level. While serum insulin significantly increased. Serum DPP-4 was significantly reduced in all treated groups, concerning lipid profile, stevia and metformin significantly lowered TC, TG, LDLand increased HDL. Both stevia and metformin significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH compared to diabetic rats. In addition, stevia significantly improved the antidiabetic effects of metformin. Stevia has an antihyperglycemic effect and could increase the antidiabetic activity of metformin. DPP-4 attenuation, antioxidant and insulin-sensitizing effects may be involved in the antidiabetic action of stevia. Regarding lipid profile stevia showed hypolipidemic effect.