EFFECTS OF PUNICA GRANATUM PEELS EXTRACT ON THE INTESTINAL a-GLUCOSIDASE ACTIVITY AND THE HISTOPATHOLOGY OF THE PANCREAS OF ALLOXAN –INDUCED DIABETIC RATS
Mohamed Fouad Shalaby1, Alsayed Ahmed Zaki1,2, Samah Shabana1,3 & Noura M. S. Osman4*
1Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy program, Batterjee medical college, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2Department of Pharmacology; Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Nasr city, Cairo, Egypt
3Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr University for Science and Technology, 6th October City, Egypt
4Department of Human Anatomy& Embryology; Faculty of Medicine; Minia University; El Minia; Egypt
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) had been detected to have hypoglycemic effects. This study was done to evaluate the effects of Pomegranate peel ethyl acetate extract (PGE) on the intestinal α-glucosidase enzyme activity and on the pancreas of the Alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Forty adult male albino rats were divided into: Group I: (Normal control group); Group II (Diabetic control group); Group III (Diabetic+ PGE (200mg/kg) and Group IV (Diabetic+ PGE (400 mg/kg). The results showed that the administration of PGE to the diabetic rats in a dose of 400 mg/kg for three weeks significantly reduced the blood glucose level and the intestinal α-glucosidase enzyme activity. Histological and morphometric studies of the pancreas showed a significant increase in the diameter and the number of the islets of Langerhans and the percentage of insulin immune positive cells/islet in the Diabetic+ PGE (400 mg/kg) group. These data indicate that PGE at a dose of 400 mg/kg has anti-diabetic effects which may be achieved by two mechanisms: 1. Helping the regeneration of β-cells in the pancreas. 2. Inhibiting intestinal α-glucosidase activity thus decreasing carbohydrates absorption in the small intestine. Therefore, Pomegranate peels extract can be used as a supplement for the regulation of hyperglycemia.
June 2015