The Impact of Monolluma quadrangula Extracts on Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Male Rats

Abstract

Diabetes is a metabolic disease described as an excess of blood glucose that occurs as a result of lack of insulin secretion or because of insufficient cell absorption of insulin. Monolluma quadrangula (MQ) is an important medicinal plant used as a drug for diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. This study investigated the impact of M. quadrangula extract as the protective and curative plant against diabetes mellitus. Thirty male rats aged 3-4 months and weighing (150-200g) were divided into five groups (each group consists of six rats). The first group received only normal saline and serve as a negative control (NC), whereas, the second group received 150 mg/kg alloxan to induce DM and serve as diabetic control (DC). Each of the third fourth and fifth groups received 150, mg/kg of alloxan to induce DM then treated with 100, 200, 300 mg/kg of M. quadrangula extract respectively. M. quadrangula extract significantly decreased oxidative stress and in turn, the blood glucose level in diabetic induced rats. This may be due to the fact that the plant extract increases glucose removal from the blood, decrease the release of glucagon, or increase that of insulin, directly stimulate glycolysis in peripheral tissues or reduce glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.