Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic disorders of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Long-term use of the blood glucose lowering drugs can cause side effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the alcoholic extract of E. cyparissias on the level of brain antioxidant enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 adult male Wistar rats (250±20 gr) were divided randomly into 4 groups: 1) control 2) streptozotocin-induced diabetic 3) treatment1: received 500 mg/kg of the extract and 4) treatment 2: received 250 mg/kg of the extract. The two treatment groups received the alcoholic extract through gastric gavages for 21 days. At the end of the treatment, the blood glucose and levels of brain antioxidant enzymes (TAC, MDA, SOD and GPX) were determined.

Results: Results showed that the MDA level was significantly increased in brain tissue in the diabetic group compared to the control group (P=0.001). Furthermore, the levels of TAC, SOD and GPX were significantly decreased in brain tissues in the diabetic group compared to the control group (P=0.001). Similar results were obtained for the blood glucose level.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that oral administration of E. cyparissias alcoholic extract has the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.