ABSTRACT
It is estimated that 190 million people worldwide have diabetes mellitus. Several attempts have been made to elucidate the deleterious effects of diabetes on various organ systems, as well as the reversal of these effects by treatment and/or diet. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of prolonged treatment with Syzygium cumini (Jambolan) sheet aqueous extract on the structure of cells responsible for secretory processes in the parotid and submandibular salivary glands of spontaneously diabetic mice. Ten female mice, including five diabetic Nod mice (group I) and five BALB/c mice (group II), were used. After characterization of the diabetic state, animals of group I received Syzygium cumini extract and group II animals received water ad libitum. After the experimental period, the salivary glands were collected from the animals for stereological analysis. The results showed structural alterations in the salivary glands of diabetic animals characterized by nuclear and cytoplasmic atrophy and the occurrence of inflammatory cells, as well as elevated glycemia levels. We conclude that no recovery of normal glycemia levels or glandular tissue structure occurs in diabetic animals even when treated with Syzygium cumini extract, a fact that might result in changes in the functional mechanisms of these organs.