Background: Type 2 diabetes is a major illness that affects millions of people. The key causes of type 2 diabetes are insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion
Objectives: To evaluate the possible effects of ranolazine versus gliclazide on blood glucose levels,HbA1c, nitric oxide and oxidative stress markers in HFD/STZ-induced type 2 diabetes in male albino rats and their effect on the histopathological picture of the pancreas and on apoptosis.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male albino rats were divided into four groups. The normal control group which received saline (1 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. The diabetic control group that received saline (1 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. The gliclazide-treated group that received gliclazide (10 mg/kg) twice daily for 5 weeks and the ranolazine-treated group that received ranolazine (20 mg/kg) twice daily for 5 weeks. Body weight and blood glucose levels were measured weekly for the 5 weeks, then blood samples were obtained for various biochemical analysis: lipid profile, HbA1c, AGEs and NO. Then rats were sacrificed and the pancreatic tissues were obtained for oxidative stress markers estimation, for histopathological examination using haematoxylin and eosin stain and for estimation of caspase-3 marker.
Results: Ranolazine improved diabetes by reducing fasting blood glucose level, HbA1c, NO and AGEs. Moreover, it improved the oxidative stress markers, the histopathological picture of the pancreas and decreased the apoptosis.
Conclusion: Ranolazine has the potential to become a novel agent for treating type 2 diabetes patients.