Comparative Study on the Influence of Some Medicinal Plants on Diabetes Induced by Streptozotocin in Male Rats

Abstract

Medicinal plants have played an important role in the treatment of many diseases. Medicinal plants are believed to be well appropriate with the human body and to produce less side influences than the pharmaceuticals. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has abundant and wide variety of medicinal plants whose therapeutic effects have not been adequately studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic activities of the extracts of three plant species collected from Albaha region of Saudi Arabia including Olea oleaster (Oleaceae family) leaves (OLE), Juniperus procera (Cupressaceae family) leaves (JLE), and Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae family) stems (OSE) on streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic male rats. The animals were distributed into eight groups. The first group was used as normal control. The second group was diabetic control. Diabetic rats of the third, fourth, and fifth groups were supplemented with OLE, JLE, and OSE, respectively. Normal rats of the sixth, seventh, and eighth groups were treated with OLE, JLE, and OSE, respectively. As expected, the mean of body weight was significantly decreased in rats of the second group. Significant increase in the value of serum glucose and decline of insulin value were observed in rats of the second group. Several alterations of lipid and protein profile and oxidative stress markers were noted in diabetic control rats. Severe histopathological alterations of pancreatic tissues were observed in untreated diabetic rats. The obtained results showed that OLE, JLE, and OSE attenuated the physiological and histopathological alterations. These new data indicate that the attenuation influences of OLE, JLE, and OSE attributed to their antioxidant properties confirmed by oxidative stress markers evaluation.

Rutin Restore Biochemical Changes, Oxidative Stress and Betatrophin Level in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Our results are in accordance with who stated that pancreatic tissues of diabetic control rats showed a decrease of Langerhans islet size and multiple degeneration and injuries. In addition to, the number of β-cells was reduced, and some necrosis and destruction were found [51].…”

Essential Oil from Ether-Containing Plants of Juniper (<i>Juniperus</i>) and Spruce (<i>Picea</i>) Leaves by Distillation

“…The chemical composition of volatile oils isolated from different species depends on geographic origin [5]. Antibacterial [6], anti-inflammatory [7], antifungal activity [8], analgesic activity [9], antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic, antimicrobial activities [10] [11], antioxidant activity [12], antihypercholesterolemic activity [13] and neuroprotective activity in Parkinson's disease [14] of Picea tree were studied. Juniperus species are used for the treatment of hyperglycemia, tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, ulcers, intestinal worms, to heal wounds and cure liver disease; berries are used in the treatment of skin diseases including skin rash and eczema, respiratory tract diseases, asthma, common cold, cough, bronchitis, throat inflammation, pneumonia and tuberculosis [11] [15].…”

Antidiabetic effect of olive leaf extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in experimental animals

“…Among these medicinal plants, olive tree leaves, which are an important source of antioxidants, have been used in traditional treatments for centuries in regions where olives grow (3). Moreover, there are numerous academic studies reporting the benefits of olive leaf in terms of health (4)(5)(6). However, there are many bioactive molecules in the composition of olive leaves, with the most widely known and recognized compounds in OLE being secoiridoids (oleuropein, ligstrosid, I-methyloleuropein), flavonoids (kaempferol, apigenin, and luteloin), and phenolic compounds (hdyroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and caffeic acid) (7).…”