The Role of an Aqueous Extract of Cactus on Histopancreatic Architecture in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Herbs have been used as medicinal for several years to cure or rather manage different ailments such as diabetes mellitus. This is very common in rural settings of sub-saharan Africa and is now being adopted in urban areas. Opunta species have widely been seen to contain antihyperglycaemic effects. To evaluate the antihyperglycaemic and histopancreatic effect of aqueous extract of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia species) cladodes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats in vivo. This was a laboratory based research conducted at Mulungushi University involving 30 wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) that weighed between 160-200 g which were randomly selected into five groups (6 per cage); normal control, diabetic control, diabetic +metformin, diabetic +cactus and cactus only group. Initial blood glucose levels were obtained from the tail and record then Diabetes mellitus was induced using a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (70mg/kg BW) and established a persistent state of hyperglycemia after 72hours. The aqueous cactus extract of 100 mg/kg BW and metformin of 100 mg/kg BW was administered orally using intragastric cannula daily for a period of 4 weeks. At the end of the fourth week, Diabetes + cactus and diabetes + metformin groups body weights were statistically significant when compared to the diabetic group (P<0.05). While diabetic group was statistically significant when compared to normal control (P<0.05). The relative weight of the pancreas in diabetic group was statistically significant to other groups (P<0.05). The blood glucose in diabetic + cactus was normoglycaemic at 3rd week, Diabetic + metformin group when compared to diabetic group was statistically significant (P<0.05). The normal control and cactus only groups maintained normoglycaemic till the end of the 4th week. The histological findings of the normal control and cactus only group showed normal pancreatic cytoarchitecture. Diabetes group showed high degree of disorganization in the cytoarchitecture in the islet with reduction in β cell mass and deposition of elastic fibres. The Diabetic+Metformin group showed slight decrease in the cell mass (β cells) and elastic fibres were extensively deposited. Diabetic+Cactus treated group exhibited normal histology of the pancreas with increased number of β cells. Opuntia species are able to lower elevated blood glucose levels and ameliorate the effects of STZ on the pancreatic morphology

Evaluation of the Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Psidium guajava (Guava) Leaves on the Frontal Cortex of Diabetic Wistar Rats

“…The dry pounded guava leaves were then grounded and sieved to obtain a homogenous powder (800 g). The extraction was done using Soxhlet extraction methods 7 .…”

A Histological Study on the Effect of Aqueous Extract of Cactus on Frontal Cortex of Diabetes Mellitus Wistar Rat

“…Blood will be obtained from the median caudal vein of the tail by snipping the tip of the tail. The blood glucose level was monitored weekly from two weeks (acclimatization period) before the induction of Diabetes and for four weeks of treatment [17], [18].…”

“…Body weight (g) of the rats was recorded for two weeks (acclimatization period) prior to induction of diabetes and on a weekly basis during the experimental treatment for a period of four weeks. Body Weight was taken with a weighing scale (Venus VT 30 SL) [16], [18].…”

“…Most herbal dietary supplements seem to contain more than one plant components and the compositions of these products depends on the availability of active plant component s, a few examples of the common components include garlic, cactus, cinnamon, aloe Vera and ginseng to mention a few. There is growing interest in the use of self-medication using herbs over the past years, as this form of treatment can be a contributing factor to the masking of symptoms and late recognition of the disease, as well as the possible cause of bacterial resistance and development of other iatrogenic diseases [7]- [9]. This study will focus mainly on the effects of cactus aqueous extract on the frontal cortex of diabetic Wistar rats.…”

“…They came to a conclusion that prickly pear cactus cladode extracts have the potential to treat diabetes mellitus in humans if used in a dose and a time dependent manner. It also mentioned that the body weights of the animals that fed on the cactus plant reduced which could have played a role in the therapeutic effect, seeing as obesity is one of the major contributing factors in the development of DM type 2 [9]- [11]. In the past few years there has been compelling evidence provided by not only academic scientists but also private institutions on the nutritional and health potentials of the cactus.…”