Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing health concern worldwide. Use of plants for treatment of DM is widely practiced in the Middle East. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Capparis spinosa are traditionally used as antidiabetic medications. The present study evaluated the differential effects of ethanol extraction of these plants on the blood glucose concentration and the pathology of pancreatic β-cell mass, liver, lungs, kidneys and GI tract in diabetic rats. DM was induced in 30 out of 40 adult female Albino rats, using intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg BW alloxan. The diabetic rats were assigned into three groups, two of which were treated with extract of garlic and C. spinosa fruits (300 mg/kg) for 12 days and the rats of the third group, as the untreated group received ordinary diet. Ten non diabetic rats remained as the normal control group. Administration of these extracts tended to decrease the blood glucose concentration, while the blood glucose of the untreated rats remained significantly high. The garlic extract was found to be more effective than C. spinosa extract. Histopathologically, tissue sections of the pancreas in the treated rats did not show a significant difference with the untreated diabetic rats. The liver of the treated diabetic rats with garlic extract revealed slight improvement in the hepatic tissue compared to those of the untreated diabetic rats. This study indicated a significant anti-hyperglycemic effect of garlic and C. spinosa fruit and supported its traditional usage in treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, garlic, capparis spinosa, histopatological changes, pancreatic islets.