Protective and therapeutic effects of Phoenix dactylifera leaf extract on pancreatic β-cells and diabetic parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

In this study, diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats via intraperitoneal administration of STZ (55 mg/kg). In this study, 49 rats were divided into seven groups randomly (n = 7 per group). Our three treatment groups for 42 days were given 250 mg/kg ofP.d extract, 500  mg/kg ofP.d extract, and 5  mg/kg glibenclamide orally, respectively. Then, the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were obtained from puncturing the retro-orbital sinus at the initial and end of the experiment and finally sacrificed. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and serum biochemical parameters including malon dialdehyde (MDA), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin level were measured. Pancreatic tissue was identified by immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis which was used to evaluate β-cells. Statistical analysis was done by applying SPSS statistical software; ANOVA and Tukey’s test wer e used to assess data in the control and treatment groups. Blood glucose significantly decreased after daily oral administration ofP.d in diabetic rats (P <  0.05). HbA1c and MDA also declined inP.d extract- and glibenclamide-treated animals compared with those in the control group (P <  0.05). Plasma insulin level also rose in treatment groups compared with that in the control group (P <  0.05). The β-cell number increased significantly in theP.d-treated diabetic rats. According to the results of this study,P.d extract might decrease hyperglycemia and improve co...
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research