ABSTRACT
The number of people suffering diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate. A huge number of populations in the world are entirely dependent on traditional medications. This practice may be due to their safety, effectiveness, and availability as well as their fewer side effects when compared to the synthetic hypoglycemic agents. The present study was carried out to investigate and compare the activity of Lupinus albus [seeds], Medicago sativa [seeds] and the mixture of both plants seeds on some biochemical, hematological and histological parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Twenty-five male adult albino rats were divided into two groups: group 1: control group [five animals] and group 2: alloxan induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were further divided into four subgroups, five animals each. Subgroup1: diabetic untreated rats; subgroup 2: diabetic rates treated with aqueous extract of Lupinus albus seeds; subgroup 3: diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of Medicago sativa seeds; and finally subgroup 4: diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of the mixture of Lupinus albus and Medicago sativa seeds. After thirty days of treatment all rats were sacrificed, blood sample were collected to estimate some biochemical and hematological parameters. Liver samples were collected to determine their glycogen content and pancreatic samples were obtained and processed for microscopic and quantitative evaluation. In diabetic group, there was reduction in body weight's, hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, significant increase in some parameters of liver and kidney functions as well as significant changes in lipids profile and proteins level with significant decreased liver glycogen content. All treated groups restored most of the mentioned parameters to their normal values. Moreover, these treatments recorded partial improvement in the histopathological changes produced by alloxan. The aqueous extract of Lupinus albus or Medicago sativa [seeds] or by their mixture has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects by increasing insulin level and decreasing insulin resistance. In addition, they ameliorate most complications of diabetes