Effect of Ocimum sanctum and chlorpropamide on pancreatic islets of diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

Ocimum sanctum is well known medicinal herb, highly available around the Indo-Pak Subcontinent and widely been used in many aliments. Its antimicrobial, antitusstive, hypolycaemic and hypochoglestrolaemic properties are familiar. In this study its hypoglycaemic property has been further explored and effect on pancreas was examined histologically. A total of 47 diabetic rats were treated in different groups with Ocimum sanctum, chlorpropamide and in combination for 15 days. Then the weight of the pancreas was measured and found significant increase in chlorpropamide treated group and in combined group. Beta cells increased significantly in Ocimum sanctum treated group and in combined treated group. Alpha cells reduced significantly [p <0.05] in combined group only. This experiment suggests the proliferation of B cells per islet