Background: Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM) were progressively widespread all over the world and the alteration of oxidative stress and antioxidants associated with DM was established.
Aim of the work: The natural products were used in many ancient cultures to overcome the DM, so pomegranate peel and olive leaves will be investigated in this work.
Materials and Methods: Adult male albino rats (Sprague Dawley), weighing 220-250 g, were used in this study. Animals were classified into five groups, five rats in each group. Control group: rats were served as normal healthy control and were received no treatment but only normal chow diet and water ad libitum for 4 weeks. Diabetic group: rats were intraperitoneal injected with STZ at dose of 40 mg / kg b. wt. for a single dose. Diabetic and olive leaves extract group: diabetic rats were orally administered with watery extract of olive leaves at dose of 250 mg / kg b. wt. for 4 weeks. Diabetic and pomegranate peel extract group: diabetic rats were orally administered with pomegranate peel at 250 mg / kg b. wt. for 4 weeks. Diabetic and mix of olive leaves & pomegranate peel group: diabetic rats were orally administered with pomegranate peel and olive leaves at 250 mg / kg b. wt. for 4 weeks.
Results: The oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide were increased but there was a decrease in the antioxidants makers such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, reduced glutathione and total antioxidants capacity in the liver of diabetic rats. The expression of insulin receptor and glucose transporter 2 genes was inhibited in liver of diabetic rats. Watery extracts of olive leaves and pomegranate improved the biochemical and molecular changes associated with DM. Conclusion: The results showed a hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic action of olive leaves and pomegranate peel.