Table 1.

Experimental design.

		Time in days
Groups	N = 8 rats	0–10	10–20	20–60	60–70
1	Normal control (NC)	week of adaptation	Induction of diabetes for groups: 2,4,5	Ingestion of SP for Groups 3, 5 and Met for Groups 4,6	Stopped SP and Met treatments
2	Alloxan without treatment (DC)
3	S. platensis (10%) (SPC)
4	Alloxan + Metformin (500 mg/kg bw) (D + Met)
5	Alloxan+S. platensis (10%) (D + SP)
6	Metformin (500 mg/kg bw) (Met C)