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Background & objectives: Iron overload is involved in the pathophysiology of many diseases including diabetes. In fact, the excess iron by creating free radicals makes damage to pancreas and leads to insulin resistance and diabetes. Andrographolide extract has hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. This study has surveyed the effects of andrographolide on blood glucose and lipid profile in rats with secondary iron overload.

Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: the healthy control group, secondary iron overload group, secondary iron overload groups treated with a dose of 3.5 and 7 mg/kg of andrographolide extract, and andrographolide groups treated with a dose of 3.5 and 7 mg/kg of extract. Iron and extract were injected for 6 and 12 days, respectively. Blood samples were taken for measurement of blood glucose and lipid profiles. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test.

Results: The pathological results of samples from liver of animals receiving iron showed that the iron was deposited in the liver tissues. Iron injection significantly increased blood glucose levels compared to healthy control group (p<0.05). In the iron overload group, andrographolide extract with a dose of 3.5 mg/kg or 7 mg/kg significantly decreased blood glucose levels (p<0.05). Iron injections did not increase the serum triglyceride and cholesterollevels. Injections of andrographolide extract with a dose of 3.5 mg/kg and 7 mg/kg, significantly decreased the cholesterol levels compared to iron receiving group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Results of this study showed that the andrographolide with different doses may be effective in the treatment of diabetes by reducing serum glucose and cholesterol levels.

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Background & objectives: Andrographolide has potent antioxidant properties. There is still not a complete understanding of the antioxidant effects of andrographolide. In this study, the effect of andrographolide on the serum antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was investigated in the rats with secondary iron overload. 
Methods: In this experimental study, 32 rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 each. The groups included: 1-Control 2- Receiving iron 3- Receiving iron treated with 7 mg/kg andrographolide 4- Receiving 7 mg/kg andrographolide. The serum activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase and serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured using colorimetric method. Prussian blue was used to evaluate iron deposition in liver.
Results: The results showed that iron was deposited in the liver. The activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the secondary iron receiving group, compared to control group, was significantly increased (p<0.05). The activity of catalase was significantly decreased in the group receiving iron and treated with andrographolide, compared to the control and iron receiving groups (p<0.05). Also, the activity of superoxide dismutase in the group receiving iron and treated with andrographolide decreased significantly compared to the iron receiving group (p<0.05). Serum levels of malondialdehyde in the iron receiving group were higher than the control group (p<0.05). Serum levels of malondialdehyde in the group receiving iron and treated with andrographolide, compared with the iron receiving group, showed a significant decrease (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Andrographolide (7mg/kg) reduced the serum activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde serum levels in rats with secondary iron overload.