ABSTRACT
The potential application of Truffle (Terfeziaceae) and Desert Date tree (Balanites aegyptiaca) for modulating the diabetesmellitus related symptoms has gained much interest. However, less firm evidence has come from data to increase theunderstanding of the mechanism by which Truffle and Balanites protect pancreatic β-cells. The present study aimed toevaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Truffle and Balanites aegyptiaca on the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level; thechanges in pancreatic histology as well as the changes in iNOS and IL-1β genes expression level among STZ induceddiabetic rats which might help in better clarification of possible mechanisms beside the beneficial effects of the studiedplants on diabetes. The elevation of the FBG level, pathological pancreatic changes and the level of both IL-1β and iNOSgene expressions in diabetic rats were observed in comparison with negative control rats. This increase was declinedsignificantly due to the administration of Truffle and Balanites extracts. All of the studied parameters did not completelyreverse to the normal levels as compared with negative control rats. The obtained results concluded that the beneficial effectof Truffle and Balanites aegyptiaca on STZ-induced diabetes was at least partly due to the reduction of IL-1β and iNOS geneover the expression which can have a protective effect on β cell.