ABSTRACT
Since eucalyptus is a traditional plant which has been consumed as antidiabetic in herbal medicines, the aim of this survey was to compare the effect of eucalyptus aqueous extract and insulin on serum blood sugar and liver enzymes in streptozotocin [STZ] diabetic male rats. The experiment was performed on four groups of rats: sham control [A], diabetic control [B], diabetic [C] which received insulin and diabetic group [D] which consumed Eucalyptus aqueous extract in drinking water for 4 weeks [n=8]. Sham control and B group did not receive any agents. At the end, animals were deep anesthetized by diethyl ether, sacrificed and blood samples were collected. Blood sugar, serum lipids and liver enzymes were measured by ordinary methods. Obtained data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results were expressed as mean +/- SD. Statistical difference of p<0.05 was recognized significant. Results showed that blood sugar in group C significantly decreased compared with that of group B but ALT, AST and ALP activity value significantly increased compared with those of other groups. These results indicated that Eucalyptus aqueous extract caused decreased blood sugar but increased liver enzymes activity in STZ diabetic male rats
ABSTRACT
Tamarindus indica Linn was used as a traditional medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus in human and experimental animals. This study investigated effects of aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica seeds [AETIS] against STZ-induced damages in pancreatic islands by means of stereological methods. sixty matured normoglycemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200- 250 gr, were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups [n=10]. Control, STZ-induced diabetic; by intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/Kg streptozotocin, Treated control group [TC]; received AETIS at a dose of 200mg/kg/day, and AETIS treated diabetic groups [TD1-3]; received respectively AETIS at the dose of 50, 100,and 200 mg/kg/day by gavage from one week after induction of diabetes by STZ. After 8 weeks of experiment, stereological estimation of volume density and total volume of islets and beta cells, volume weighted mean islets volume, mass of beta cells, islets, and pancreas and total number of islets were done. Volume density and total volume of islets, volume weighted mean islets volume, volume density islets/pancreas, volume density beta cells/islet, mass of islets and pancreas of treated diabetic groups [TD1-3] were significantly higher than untreated diabetic group [P<0.001], and in TD3 group these values were comparable to controls. Although total volume and mass of beta cells in TD1-3 were significantly higher than D group but they were significantly lower than control group [P<0.05]. Total number of islets, pancreas wet weight and volume did not show any significant changes between control and experimental groups [P>0.05]. Results suggested that AETIS partially restores pancreatic beta cells and repairs STZ- induced damages in rats