Endothelium-dependent attenuating effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum on the contractile vascular reactivity of diabetic rats

The present study was undertaken to determine whether two-month treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats with aqueous leaf extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (TFG; 200 mg/kg; i.p.) could improve thoracic aortic responsiveness and to evaluate its endothelium dependency. For this purpose, vascular responses to KCl and noradrenaline (NA) were measured. Diabetic state significantly increased contractile responses to KCl and NA in aortic rings in both endothelium-intact and -denuded rings. Extract-treated diabetic rats showed a significant lower maximal contractile response to KCl only in endothelium-intact rings as compared to diabetic rings. It is concluded that intraperitoneal administration of aqueous leaf extract of TFG for two months could improve some functional indices of the vascular system in diabetic state and the integrity of the endothelium is essential for its beneficial effects