Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Balanitoside on hyperglycemia, pancreatic β-cells and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Eighty diabetic rats were divided into four groups of twenty rats each; group I serve as diabetic control and receive distilled water at 0.5mg/kg, groups II-IV serve as the experimental groups and receive 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg of Balatinoside and 6units/kg of Insulin respectively. Group V serve as the normal control and consist of twenty non-diabetic rats, they were given distilled water at 0.5mg/kg. Five rats from each group were sacrificed on day 8, 15, 22 and 29, the fasting blood glucose levels were monitored on weekly basis. The liver and pancreas were dissected; the liver was homogenized in Phosphate buffer Saline, centrifuged at 5000 x g and used to determine the activities CAT, SOD and GSH. The pancreas was processed for light microscopic study and stained with H&E and Gomori Aldehyde. The result showed significant reduction in the fasting blood glucose levels of rats treated with Balanitoside and insulin as compared to those of diabetic control (P< 0.05), a significant increase in CAT, SOD &GSH levels were observed in rats treated with Balanitoside and insulin as compared with those of diabetic control rats(P< 0.05). Regeneration of pancreatic β-cells was observed in rats treated with Balanitoside and insulin. In conclusion, Balanitoside decrease blood glucose levels and oxidative stress in diabetic rats and cause the regeneration of pancreatic β-cells.

Keywords: Balanitoside; Diabetes; Hyperglycemia; Oxidative stress; β-cells