en زیست شناسی سلولی Cell Biology <p><em><strong>Background:</strong></em> We investigated the effects of<em> Withania somnifera</em> root (WS) on insulin resistance, tumor necrosis factor &alpha; (TNF-&alpha;), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in fructose-fed rats.</p> <p><em><strong>Methods:</strong></em> Forty-eight Wistar-Albino male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=12); Group I as control, Group II as sham-treated with WS by 62.5mg/g per diet, Group III fructose-fed rats received 10%W/V fructose, and Group IV fructose- and WS-fed rats. After eight weeks blood samples were collected to measure glucose, insulin, IL-6, and TNF-&alpha; levels in sera.</p> <p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong> Blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-R), IL-6, and TNF-&alpha; levels were all significantly greater in the fructose-fed rats than in the controls. Treatment with WS significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the fructose-induced increases in glucose, insulin, HOMA-R, IL-6, and TNF-&alpha;.</p> <p><em><strong>Conclusion:</strong></em> Our data suggest that WS normalizes hyperglycemia in fructose-fed rats by reducing inflammatory markers and improving insulin sensitivity.</p> IL-6, Insulin resistance, TNF- α, Withania somnifera 62 67 http://rbmb.net/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-39&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zahra Samadi Noshahr 10031947532846006056 10031947532846006056 No Department of Pharmacology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran Mohammad Reza Shahraki 10031947532846006057 10031947532846006057 No Department of Physiology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran Hassan Ahmadvand hassan_a46@yahoo.com 10031947532846006058 10031947532846006058 Yes Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran Davood Nourabadi 10031947532846006059 10031947532846006059 No Department of Physiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Alireza Nakhaei 10031947532846006060 10031947532846006060 No Department of Pharmacology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran