Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome that is rising in prevalence worldwide in both humans and animals. It is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and is caused either by inadequate insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, impaired insulin signaling, or both.
Objective: To evaluate the possible protective effects of rosmarinus officinalis and/or ocimum Basilicum on induced diabetes in adult male albino rats.
Material and methods: The present work was carried out form 15th of June to 30th of July 2021. Fifty adult male albino rats of local strain weighing 135 - 150 g were chosen to be the model of the present study and kept in suitable cages (45 x 30 x 30 cm, 5 rats per cage). They were divided into five equal groups: Group I (Control group) received no treatment; Group II (Diabetic group) was subjected to induction of diabetes by intraperitoneal alloxan injection (120mg/kg BW for two days), Group III (Rosemary group) subjected to induction of diabetes and received Rosemary fortified diet (at 0.05%) for four weeks, Group IV (Basil group) subjected to induction of diabetes and received Basil fortified diet (at 0.05%) for four weeks, and Group V (combined group) subjected to induction of diabetes and received Rosemary and Basil fortified (0.025% each) diet for four weeks. Checking of blood glucose was done, rats with high blood glucose (250 mg/dl or more) were considered diabetic. At the end of the study, blood samples were withdrawn and serum was separated for determination of serum fasting glucose, insulin, glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA).
Results: Rats of groups III, IV and V showed significant decreases in serum glucose levels in comparison to the control group. In addition, dietary fortification with Rosemary and/or Basil significantly increased glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels, while values for malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase were decreased.
Conclusion: Dietary fortification with Rosemary and/or Basil leaves powder at 0.05% separately or 0.025% in combination might be used as promising modulators of blood glucose levels as well as nutritional management tools for the prevention and control of diabetes mellitus.