Objective:To explore the potential antidiabetic activity of methanolic extract of Harmal seeds in obese-diabetic rats.
Design: Randomized controlled experimental study.
Animals: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats.
Procedures: The P. harmala seeds methanolic extract was prepared and orally administered at two doses of 150 and 250 mg/kg to two groups of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Two additional control groups were used as healthy control and obese-diabetic control groups. Animals were euthanized after 8 weeks of experimental period, blood and tissue samples were collected. Liver tissue samples were used to determine antioxidant and oxidative stress markers; while those from adipose tissue were used for estimation of PPAR gamma expression.
Results:Supplementation of P. harmala methanolic extract with both doses (150 and 250 mg/kg) to diabetic rats (G3 and G4) significantly reversed the observed alterations in the levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P <0.05). . In addition, the downregulation of PPAR gamma expression in diabetic rats (G2) was also restored in rats (G3 and G4) supplemented with P.harmala methanolic extract.
Conclusion and clinical relevance: Our finding revealed that Harmal seed extract has a potent antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats that can be used as a dietary supplement by diabetic patients.