Table 2.

Effects of saffron stigma extract on biochemical parameters of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of seven animals in each group. * Indicates significant differences compared to the diabetic control group (P < 0.05).

Groups	Healthy control	Diabetic control	Diabetic + SSE (25 mg/kg)	Diabetic + SSE (100 mg/kg)	Diabetic + glibenclamide
FBS (mmol/L)	7.4 ± 0.4*	24.6 ± 1.2	8.9 ± 0.7*	8.3 ± 0.4*	7.9 ± 0.8*
Insulin (μU/mL)	15.2 ± 0.7*	7.1 ± 0.3	10.2 ± 0.5*	12.7 ± 0.6*	13.9 ± 0.4*
HOMA-β cell function	77.9*	6.7	37.7*	52.9*	63.1*
MDA (μmol/L)	1.47 ± 0.5*	4.3 ± 0.7	2.39 ± 0.3*	1.82 ± 0.2*	1.65 ± 0.1*
Total antioxidant (μmol/L)	780 ± 14*	550 ± 21	625 ± 18*	690 ± 16*	710 ± 15*
Number of pancreatic islets/cm2	43 ± 3.5*	13 ± 1.8	21 ± 1.9*	29 ± 2.6*	34 ± 0.4*

SSE, Saffron stigma extract; FBS, fasting blood glucose; MDA, malondialdehyde.