Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of Allium sativa and Nigella sativaon glucose level, insulin level, and histological appearance of beta cells of pancreas in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Aqueous A. sativa extract and N. sativa oil were prepared and stored at -20°C till use. Forty eight male albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 12 in each); normal control group (NC), diabetic control group (DC), diabetic A. sativum treated group (D-AS), and diabetic N. sativa treated group (D-NS). After induction of diabetes mellitus, the rats of D-AS and D-NS groups were treated with 100 mg/kg/day A. sativa extract and 0.2 ml/kg/day N. sativa oil, respectively for thirty days. Three animals from each group were sacrificed after induction of diabetes mellitus (DM) and then on 10, 20, and 30th days after A. sativa and N. sativa treatment for blood and pancreatic tissue sample collection. Results showed significant (p = 0.001) decrease in elevated serum glucose, rise in lowered serum insulin and partial improvement in histological appearance of pancreatic β cells of DM induced groups after 30 days of treatment with individual herbs. No significant difference noted for A. sativa (p = 0.42) and N. sativa (p = 0.79) activity which explains similarities in their effects.

Key words: Diabetes, rats, Allium sativa, Nigella sativa.

Abbreviation

NC, Normal control group; DC, diabetic control group; STZ, streptozotocin;SACS, s-allyl cysteine sulfoxide; DM, diabetes mellitus.